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THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI.
Done into English by
ARTHUR GEORGE WARNER, M.A.,
AND
EDMOND WARNER, B.A.
The year A.D. 1010 saw the completion of the Shahnama, the great
Persian epic. Its author, the poet Firdausi, spent over thirty labori-
ous years in its composition, only to experience, when the task had
been achieved, a heart-breaking disappointment well worthy of in-
clusion in any record of the calamities of authors. His work has
survived the test of time, and by general consent is accounted to be
one of the few great epics of the world. Geographically, and in some
other respects, it may be said to stand half-way between the epics of
Europe and those of India. In its own land it has no peer, while in
construction and subject-matter it is unique. Other epics centre
round some heroic character or incident to which all else is subservient.
In the Shahnama there is no lack either of heroes or of incidents, but
its real hero is the ancient Persian people, and its theme their whole
surviving legendary history from the days of the First Man to the
death of the last Sisanian Shah in the middle of the seventh century
of our era. It is the glory of the Persian race that they alone among
all nations possess such a record , based as it is on their own traditions
and set forth in the words of their greatest poet. In another sense,
too, the Shahnama is unique. The authors of the other great epics
tell us little or nothing of their own personalities or of their sources
of information. Their works are fairy palaces suspended in mid air ;
we see the result, but know not how it was achieved. The author of
the Shahnama takes us into his confidence from the first, so that in
reading it we are let into the secret of epic-making, and can apply
the knowledge thus gained to solve the problem of the construction
of its great congeners. To the student of comparative mythology
.and folk-lore, to the lover of historic romance or romantic history,
and to all that are fond of tales of high achievements and the gests
of heroes, the Shahnama is a storehouse of rich and abundant material.
To set forth a complete presentment of it with the needful notes and
elucidations is the object of the present translation, made from two
of the best printed texts of the original — that of Vullers and Lan-
dauer, and that of Turner Macan.
THE
SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSf
DONE INTO ENGLISH BY
ARTHUR GEORGE WARNEK, M.A
AND
EDMOND WARNER, B.A.
" The homes that are the dwellings of to-day
Will sink 'neath shower and sunshine to decay,
But storm and rain shall never mar what I
•: built — the palace of my poetry. ''
FIUI
VOL. VII
LONDON
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO. Lt?
BROADWAY HOUSE, CART! , B.C.
1915
The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved.
Printed by BALLANTYNB, HANSON fr Co.
ai the Ballantyne Press, Edinburgh
PREFATORY NOTE
The publication of this translation has advanced
sufficiently to enable me to state that it will be
completed in nine volumes, the last of which will
include a General Index to the whole work.
E. W.
CONTENTS
PAGE
PREFATORY NOTE v
ABBRL xvi
NOTE ON PRONUNCIATION* xviii
THE SASANIAN DYNASTY (continued)
BAHRAM G<;R—
8KCT.
1. How Bahram ascended the Throne, charged the
Officers, and wrote Letters to all the Chiefs . 7
2. How Bahram pardoned the Fault of the Iranians,
farewelled Munzir and Nu'man, and remitted
the Iranians' Arrears of Taxes .... 9
3. How Bahram went to the House of Lambak, the
Water-carrier, and became his Guest . . 12
4. How Bahram went to the House of Barahdm, the
Jew, who treated him scurvily . . . .16
5. How Bahram bestowed the Wealth of Baraham
upon Lambak 19
6. How Bahram slew Lions and forbade Wim-
ilrinking 21
7. The Story of the young Shoemaker, and how
Bahram allowed Wine again .... 24
8. How Ku/.bili, Bahrain's High Priest, ruined a
Village by a Stratagem and restored it . 26
9. How Bahram married a Country-miller's Daughters 31
10. How Bahram found the Treasures of Jamshid and
bestowed them upon the Poor ...
11. How Bahram, returning fn.m Hunting, \\vnt to
the House .of a Merchant and departed dis-
pl""H.Ml 39
How Bahram slow a Dragon and went to a Yokel's
. 42
CONTENTS
BAHRAM Gtfa (continued)
PAGE
13. How Bahram went to the Chase and espoused the
Daughters of the Thane Barzin . . 48
14. How Bahrain slew Lions, went to the House of a
Jeweller, and married his Daughter . . • 55
1 5. How Bahrain went to the Chase and passed the
Night in the House of Farshidward ... 67
16. How a Bramble-grubber revealed the Case of Far-
shidward, and how Bahrain bestowed that
Householder's Wealth upon the Poor . . 70
1 7. How Bahriim went to the Chase and slew Lions . 74
1 8. How Bahrain went to hunt lihe Onager, showed
his Skill before the Princes, and returned to
Baghdad and Istakhr 80
19. How the Khan of Chin led forth a Host to war
with Bahram, and how the Iranians asked
Quarter of the Khan and submitted to him . 84
20. How Bahram attacked the Host of the Khan and
took him ........ 89
2 1 . How Bahram took a Pledge from the Turanians,
how he set up a Pillar to delimit the Realm,
and placed Shahra upon the Throne of Tiiran . 90
22. How Bahram wrote to announce his Victory to his
Brother Narsi and returned to iran < . 92
23. How Bahram wrote a Letter of Directions to his
Officials 96
24. How Bahram called before him the Envoy of
Caesar, and how the Envoy questioned and
answered the Archmages 101
25. How Bahram dismissed Caesar's Envoy and
charged his own Officials 106
26. How Bahram went with his own Letter to Shangul
King of Hind 109
27. How Shangul received the Letter from Bahram and
made Reply 114
28. How Sbangul prepared a Feast for Bahram, and
how Bahrdm displayed his Prowess . . .116
29. How Shangul suspected Bahram and kept him
from Iran 118
30. How Bahram fought with the Wolf at the Bidding
of Shangul and slew it 121
CONTENTS ix
BAH RAM GUR (continued)
SECT. PAOB
31. How Bahrain slew a Dragon ..... 124
32. How Shangul became troubled about Bahrain
and gave a Daughter to him . . . 1 26
33. How Faghf ur of Chin wrote to Bahrain and how he
replied ...... . .129
34. How Bahnim fled from Hindustan to Iran with
the Daughter of Shangul ..... 131
35. How Shangul followed Bahram, learned who he
was, and was reconciled to him . . . .135
36. How Shangul went back to Hind and Bahnim to
Iran ......... 137
37. How Shangul with seven Kings visited Bahnim . 140
38. How Shangul returned to Hindustan, and how
Bahnim remitted the Property-tax to the
Landowners ....... 144
39. How Bahram summoned Gipsies from Hindustan . 148
40. How the Time of Bahram came to an End . . 1 50
YAZDAGIRD, Sox OF BAHRAM
i. How Yazdagird sat upon the Throne and exhorted
the Captains of the Host ..... 154
HORMl'Z —
i. How Hurmuz, Son of Yazdagird, ascended the
Throne ........ 157
Pfcrffr-
1. How Piriiz sat upon the Throne "and made an
Oration ........ 161
2. How I'ir i/l>uiltthc('itiesof I n and Bad;in-
Piruz, and how he went to war with Tunin . 163
3. The Letter of K! / to Vim/. . . . 165
4. How Pfniz fought with Khushnuw:iz and was slain 167
BALA*SH—
1. How Balash ascended the Throne and harangued
the Iranians ....... 171
2. How Sufarai had Tidings of the Slaying of Pirn/,
how he wrote a Letter to Khtishnawriz, and
how Khushnawaz replied ..... 173
3. How Sufarai fought with i iwaz, and how
Kubad was released from his Bondage . .176
x CONTENTS
KUBAD, SON OF PfRDZ —
•BCT. PACIB
1. How Kubiid sat upon the Throne and made an
Oration to the Iranians ..... 188
2. How Sufarai went to Shiniz, how the Iranians
slandered him to Kubad, and how Kubad slew
him ......... 190
3. How the Iranians put Kubad in Bonds and com-
mitted him to Rizmihr, the Son of Sufarai,
and how Jamasp, the Brother of Kubad, was
set upon the Throne . . . . . 195
4. How Kubad escaped from Ward with Rizmihr, how
he wedded the Daughter of a Thane, and how
he took Refuge with the Haitalians . . .197
5. How Kubad returned from Haital to fran, how he
had Tidings of the Birth of his Son Nushirwan,
and reascended the Throne . . . .199
6. The Story of Kubad and Mazdak, and how Kubad
adopted the Faith of Mazdak . . . .201
7. How Nushirwan rejected the Faith of Mazdak and
slew him and his Followers .... 205
8. How Kubad nominated Kisrd as Successor, and
how the Great gave him the Name of Nushir-
w;in ......... 209
PART!. NUSHIRWAN?S ADMINISTRATION OF THE REALM,
HIS WARS WITH FRONTIER-TRIBES AND
WITH RtJM, AND THE REVOLT OF NtfSH/AD
1. The Prelude ........ 220
2. How Nushirwan ascended the Throne and made
an Oration to the Iranians . . . .221
3. How Nushirwan divided his Realm into four Parts
and wrote a Decree to his Officers on the Ad-
ministration of Justice ..... 224
4. How Nushirwan required Babak to muster the
Host ......... 230
5. How Ni'ishirwan harangued the Iranians, and how
the Kings acknowledged his Supremacy . . 234
6. How Nushirwan went round his Empire and built
a Wall in the Pass between Iran and Turan . 236
7. How Nushirwan chastised the Alans and the Men
of Baluch and Gilan ...... 239
CONTENTS xi
PART I. N6sHi'RWA.V> A i -MINISTRATION, etc. (continued)
SECT. PAGE
8. How Munzir, the Arab, came to Nushirwan for
Succour against the Injustice of Caesar . . 244
9. The Letter of Shah Nushirwan to Caesar of Rum . 247
10. How the Letter of Niishirwan reached Caesar and
how he replied ....... 248
11. How Nushirwan went to war with Caesar . . 249
12. How Nushirwan took divers Strongholds in his
March to Rum 254
13. The Battle of Nushirwdn with Farfuriyiis, the
Leader of Csesar's Host, the Victory of Nushir-
wan, and his Capture of Kaliniyus and Antakiya 255
14. How Nushirwan built the City of Zib-i-Khusrau in
the Likeness of Antakiya and settled the
Riiman Captives therein ..... 259
15. How Caesar wrote to Nushirwan and sent Tribute . 261
16. The Birth of Niishzad, the Son of Nushirwan, by a
nan who was a Christian .... 263
17. The Sickness of Nushinvan and the Sedition of
Nushzad 265
1 8. The Letter of Nushirwan to Ram Barziu, the
Warden of the March of Mada'in, respecting
the Taking of Nushz;id 267
19. How Rdm Barzin fought with Nushzad, and how
Nushzad was slain 272
PART II. TH1 BfORI 01 \^' /•• IMMIHR AND OF THE
K BASTS OP NtfBHfRW^N
1. How Nushinvan had a Dream and how Buztirjmihr
interpreted it 28 1
2. The first Banquet of Nushirw.in t«> the Sages, and
the Counsels of Bu/.urjmihr .... 287
3. The second Banquet of Nushirwdn to Buzurjmihr
and tli. Archimages 290
4. The third Banquet of Nushiru ,.n t«> I'. ;/.urjmihr
and the Archimages 296
5. The fourth HaiKjuot of Nrtshirw.in t<> l'» i/.ui jinihr
and the Archimages 301
6. The fifth Ban«| 0 Huzurjmihr an.l
the Archimages 304
xii CONTENTS
PART II. THE STORY OF BUZUKJMIHR, etc. (conti/
SECT.
7. The sixth Banquet of Nushirwan to Buzurjniihr
and the Archimages 307
8, The seventh Banquet of Nushirwan to Buzurjmihr
and the Archimages 312
PART III. THE STORY OF MAHB<JD AND OTHER
MATTERS
1. The Story of Mahbud, the Wazir of Nushirwaii,
and how Mahbud and his Sons were slain by
the Sorcery of Zuran and a Jew . . .318
2. How the Sorcery of Zuran and the Jew in the
Matter of Mahbud was discovered, and how
both were slain by Command of Nushirwan . 323
3. In Praise of the Wisdom of Nushirwan, and how he
built the City of Si'irsan 326
4. The Story of the War of the Khan with Ghatkar,
the Prince of the Haitalians, the Defeat of
Ghatkar, and how they set Faghanish upon the
Throne 328
5. How Nushirwan had Tidings of the Battle of the
Khan with the Haitalians and how he led a
Host against the Khan 333
6. How the Khan had Tidings of the Coming of the
Host of Nushirwan to Gurgan and wrote a
Letter in the Cause' of Peace .... 337
7. How Nushirwan answered the Letter of the Khan 342
8. How the Khan bethought himself and wrote offer-
ing his Daughter in Marriage to Nushirwan . 345
9. How Nushirwan answered the Letter, and sent
Mihran Sitad to see and fetch the Daughter, of
the Khan ........ 349
10. How the Khan sent his Daughter, escorted by
Mihran, with a Letter and Treasures to
Nushirwan 354
11. How the Khan withdrew, and how Nushirwan
marched from Gurgan to Taisafiin . . . 358
12. Discourse on the Justice of Nushirwan and how
Mortals had Peace under his Usages . . 364
13. How Buzurjmihr counselled Nushirwan and dis-
coursed on good Deeds and Words . . . 366
CONTENTS xiii
PART IV. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GAME OF CHESS
INTO IRAN. THE LKCKND OF THE IN-
NTION OF THE GAME. THE DISCOVERY
OF THE BOOK OF KALILA AND DlMNA
SECT. PAGE
1 . How the Raja of Hind sent the Game of Chess to
Nushirwan 384
2. How Buzurjmihr invented Nard, and how Nushir-
wan sent it with a Letter to the Raja of Hind 389
3. The Story of Gav and Talhand, and the Invention
of Chess 394
4. How Nushirwiin sent Barzwi, the Leech, to Hindu-
stan to fetch a wondrous Drug, and how Barzwi
brought back the Book of Kalila and Dimna . 423
INDEX 433
THE SHAHNAMA
. VM.
ABBREVIATIONS
C. — Macau's edition of the Shahn;iina
L.— Lumsden's do.
P.— Mohl's do.
T.— Tihrdn do.
V.— Vullers' do.
BLRE. History of the Lower Roman Empire. By J. B. Bury.
DZA. Professor Darmesteter's Trans, of the Zandavasta in the
Sacred Books of the East. Reference to Parts1 and
pages.
EHI. The History of India as told by its own Historians. By
Sir H. M. Elliot, K.C.B.
EP. Eastern Persia, an Account of the Journeys of the
Persian Boundary Commission, 1870-71-72.
GDF. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman
Empire. By Edward Gibbon, Esq. With Notes by
Dean Milman and M. Guizot. Edited, with additional
Notes, by William Smith, LL.D.
GIP. Grundriss der Iranischen Philologie . . . von Wilh.
Geiger und Ernst Kuhn.
HS. Syntagma Dissertationum quas olim auctor doctissimus
Thomas Hyde S.T.P. separatim edidit.
JFB. The earliest English version of the Fables of Bidpai . . .
now again edited and induced by Joseph Jacobs.
MHP. History of Persia. By Sir John Malcolm, G.C.B
MM. Ma9oudi: Les Prairies d'Or. Texte et Traduction par
C. Barbier de Meynard et Pavet de Courteille.
NIN. Das Iranische Nationalepos von Theodor Noldeke.
1 The second edition of Part I is referred to unless otherwise
.specified.
ABBREVIATIONS xvii
NFS. Noldeke: Persische Studien. II. Sitzungsberichte der
Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. CXXVI.
Band.
NT. Geschichte der Perser und Araber zur Zeit der Sasaniden
. . . von Th. Noldeke.
RM. The Rauzat-us-safa ; or, Garden of Purity ... By ...
Mirkhond . . . Translated ... by E. Rehatsek.
RSM. The Seventh Great Oriental Monarchy. By George
Rawlinson, M.A.
NY IT. Dr. K. \\ . \\ sfs Translation of the Pahlavi Texts in the
Sacred Books of the East. Reference to Parts and
pages.
7.Y. Chronique de Abou-Djafar-Mo'hammed-Ben-Djarir-Ben-
Yezid Tabari, tmduite . . . Par M Hermann Zoten-
burg.
NOTE ON PRONUNCIATION
d as in " water."
i as in " pique."
# as in " rude."
a as in " servant."
i as in " sin."
u as in " foot."
ai as in " time."
au as in ou in " cloud."
g is always hard as in " give."
kh as ch in the German " buch."
zh as x in " azure."
IV
THE SASiNIAN DYNASTY
(Continued)
VOL. VII.
XXXV
BAHRAM
HE REIGNED SIXTY-THREE YEARS
ARGUMENT
Bahrain's accession and inaugural measures. His adventures,
amorous and otherwise, among his subjects. His relations with
foreign potentates. His instructions to his officials, and remission
of taxation. His introduction of the Gipsies into Iran, and his
death.
NOTE
Bahrain Giir (Varahran V., A.D. 420-438) is said by Tabarf and
Mas'udi to have been twenty years old at the time of his accession.1
According to Tabarf he reigned either eighteen or twenty-three
years.1 Mas'udi says the latter.8 On the other hand Mfr Khan.1,
who tells us that he followed the most generally received account,
perhaps Firdausi's own, states that Bahrain reigned sixty-three
years.* No doubt popular tradition lovingly prolonged to the
utmost the reign of this Shdh who, like James V. of Scotland, was a
:ig of the Commons." The poet was at no loss for material in
this part of his work, and the reign is the most divi-rting in the
Shahnama. Its interest with regard to the question of the
provenance of the Arabian Nights has been noted already.* As is
; expected in the circumstances the subject-matter is largely
ugh some authentic features have been preserved, and
'• can be little doubt l>ut that i own character as
ted .by Firdausf is in the main historically correct. He
fulfill.- i the promises made by him when a candidate for the throne,
L 190. • NT. ,, II-.
4 RM, 1'; ;62. »8eoV«.l. M. p. 250.
4 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSt
but gave himself up largely to pleasure, though this does not seem
to have impaired his u< tivitk-s at critical moments. He appears, too,
to have been fortunate in his administrators. His chief minister,
Mihr Narsi, who is not to be confounded with Narsi, tin- Sh;ih's
brother, and three of his sons were at the head of affairs. One
was the principal, or nearly so, of the official hierarchy, another
was chief superintendent of the taxes, and the third was com-
mander-in-chief.1 Mihr Narsi and his father Burd/a are stated to
have held office under Yazdagird, Bahrdm's father, and the former
was reappointed chief minister when Yazdagird, Bahrdm's son,
came to the throne.1 He was himself a prince and an Arsacid, so
it would seem that the supplanted family had regained a great
position for itself under the new dispensation, and that the state of
things fully justified the pronouncement put by later legend into
the mouth of Kaid.8 Bahrdm Gur began his reign with a persecu-
tion of the Christians, which led to war with the Eastern Roman
Empire. There is a slight allusion to such a war in the poem,* but
the chief incident recorded to have taken place is a pacific one.6
§§ 1 and 2. Bahrdm devotes the first days of his reign to
carrying out his promises of reform made before his accession,'
and to the relief of taxation.
§§ 3-16. We have here a series of popular legends of Bahrdm's
adventures when going about unrecognised among various classes
of his subjects.7 The story of the miser occurs twice.8
§§ 19-22. We have here the story of Bahrdm's most famous
exploit, which is historical, though as much cannot be said of the
various details with which popular appreciation has embellished it.
Historically, the foes over whom Bahrdm won his great triumph
were the Haitdlians, or White Huns.* This is clear on Firdausi's
own showing when he comes to the reign of Piriiz.10 Later on
again, in the reign of Nushirwdn, ample distinction is made
between the subjects of the Khan of Chin and the Haitdlians.11
In substituting the former for the latter on this occasion Firdausi
errs in good company. Tabari, Maa'udi, and Mir Khand all name
the Turks as the enemy,11 and since they did not come upon the
scene for another century and more,18 we learn approximately the
1 NT, pp. 106, 108 aeq. » ZT, ii. pp. 122, 127 ; NT, pp. 113.
> See Vol. vi. pp. 256, 267. 4 See p. 84. 6 See p. 100 seq.
• See Vol. vi. p. 406. 7 Cf. Vol. vi. p. 250.
8 §§ 4 and 15 seq. * See Vol. i. p. 19.
»• See p. 164 seq. » See p. 328 seq.
" NT, p. 99 ; MM, ii. 190 ; RM, Pt. I., Vol. ii. p. 357.
»8 See Vol. i. p. 20.
BAH RAM Gl''R 5
earliest date at which the story of Bahrain's exploit could have
been edited in its existing form. According to the Persian Tabari *
— the version adapted from the original Arabic by Bal'amf, the
mini>ter of the Sumunid prince Mansur, son of Null (A.D. 961-976),
about A.D. 963 — the Kh;in was put to flight, according to the Arabic a
slain in tlie battle by Bahrain's own hand. Both agree that the
Khati'm, "i- wife of the Khan, was taken prisoner and sent to serve
in the famous Fire-temple at Shi/, whither Bahram had gone to
i'>r success in his expedition.3 According to the Arabic
Tabari, Bahram, as an act of thanksgiving for his victory, relieved
his subjects of taxation for three years.* This probably is the
popular version of the fact that great reforms in that connexion
effected during his reign, but they could not have been
justified, one would think, to the extent stated by the 'amount of
plunder taken from the Haitalians, and still less to the extent
described in the Shahmima, which affirms that he almost reformed
.:ion away altogether. It may be added that the various
accounts of Bahrain's expedition against the Haitalians are in
substantial accord though they differ in detail, e.g. as to how far
the enemy had advanced at the time of the battle, the route that
Bahram followed in hi* march, and the number of troops that he
took with him.
. Bahrain's war with the Eastern Roman Empire, in which
he was not very successful, came to an end in A.D. 422, but Firdausi
(§ 19) makes it synchronise with that against the Haitalians which,
according to the Persian Tabarf,5 took place five years later. Next
we hear of an envoy sent by Ca-sar (§§ 19, 23), and then of his be-
I audience with the Shah. The points discussed are not the
terms of peace, but certain "hard questions,"' and it is only iini-
illy that the envoy mentions that Rum is ready to pay tribute
to Iran. We have a similar case in the reign of Nushirwdn when
ilind sends the g.nne of chess to that Shah, who
returns the rnmpliiiient with the game of nard,7 while in the next
voli:: 11 find the disgraced < ounsellor Bii/urjmilir regaining
favour of the same Sh:ih l>y his success in solving another
prol v Caesar.
§§ 26-38. F"i instances in the Shahnama of kings going
rts, see Vol. vi. pp. 325, 335. In the
Arabic Tabari, Ifcihram's motive for visiting Hind is to see whether
by annexing a : f it he could lighten the taxes of his •
120. « NT, p. 101.
» See p. 86; ZT. H li!l ; NT, 104. « NT. 106.
M. 1 19. • Aa to which see p. 102 «tq. 9 See p. 384 teq.
6 THE SHAHNAMA OF F1RDAUSI
subject*.1 Unlike his expedition against the Khan of Chin, as
Firdausi puts it, and historically against tin- H.iit.ilians, tin- one to
Hind appears to be wholly fabulous. It is p\vn, however, at
length by Tabari and Mir Khand, ami mentioned by Mas'iidi.'
,11 be sern that Bahrain in the course of his well meant efforts
to promote the welfare of his subjects does not find it quite so easy
as he expected to make everybody happy by legislation.
f 39. Professor Noldeke is inclined to consider Bahrain'- im-
portation of Gipsies from Hind to Iran historical.3 The details of
course belong to the provimv of popular legend, but are delight-
fully characteristic of both parties concerned. The Gipsy language
appears to be a debased form of Hindustani. According to Mir
K hiimi the Gipsies intermarried with the Persians, and the Jats
were said to be their offspring. Consequently nearly every J at is a
musician.4
§ 40. Firdausi is almost alone in his statement that Bahrain
Giir died in his bed. The common account is that he was killed
when out hunting by falling into one of the underground water-
courses, so common in Persia, and that his body never was re-
covered. Popular tradition places the scene of his death in a
valley between Shirdz and Ispahan and known as the "Vale of
Heroes," where there are numerous springs supposed to be inter-
communicating and of great depth. Sir John Malcolm states that
one of his escort was drowned in 1810 when bathing in the
identical spring in which Bahrain is said to have perished.6 Tabari
lays the scene of the accident in Media, and it took place, if it
took place at all, probably not far from Hamaddn at a spot
called, according to Dinawari, Dai Marj. Noldeke, however, con-
sidera that the whole story was made up to account for the nick-
r" bestowed upon Bahnim. The word in question
both "onager" and "tomb."6 The same collocation of
letters also means a " Fire- worshipper," and it is possible that
some Muhammadan translator from the Pahlavi may have thought
fit to dispatch the guebre to the grave.
1 NT, p. 106. « Id. RM, I, ii. 360 ; MM, ii. 191.
• NT, p. 99 note. « RM, I, ii. 357.
• HUP, i. 94 and note. • NT, 103 and note.
BAHRAM GUR
§ I
How Bdhrdm ascended the Throne, charged the Officers,
and wrote Letters to all the Chiefs
Whenas Bahrain Gur sat upon the throne
The sun acclaimed him while the Shah adored
The Maker— the all-seeing, watchful World-lord,
The Lord of victory and majesty, C. 1488
The Lord of increase and of loss — then said : —
" From Him have I received the throne and crown,
For He hath fashioned fortune, and my hopes
And fears are all in Him. I give Him thanks
For all His benefits ; do ye too praise Him,
And strive to keep His covenant unbroken."
The Iranians answered : " We are girt for service.
May this crown prove right glorious to the Shah,
And may his heart and fortune live for ever."
Their praises done, all scattered gems before him.
Thus said Bahram : " O chiefs experienced
In daily good and ill ! we all are slaves,
And God is One, sole-worthy to be worshipped.
From fear of evil days we will secure you,
And not expose you to malignant Need."
He spake. They rose and h<>m;m< -<1 him anew.
They spent the night in converse, and at sun-rise
The Shah sat peacefully upon his throne,
The Iranians came to audience, and he said : —
!< Ye chieftains famed and favoured by the stars I
Put we our trust in God and joy in Him.
Boast not and root out of the world our hearts."
He spake and then those Glories of his court —
II chiefs— called for their steeds. The Sh&h, the
third day,
Sat on the throne, and said : " Religious usage
8 THE SHAHNAMA OP PIRDAUSI
MUM U- (>l>srr\v<l. \Yr \\itnrss to (Joel's bring,
And make our souls familiar with the Faith.
re is a Resurrection, Heaven, and Hell,
And we can not escape from good and ill.
Ascribe not Faith or knowledge to the man
That doubteth of the Day of Reckoning."
The fourth day, donning on the ivory throne
The well-loved crown, he said : " Men, not my
treasures,
Are my delight. This Wayside Inn I ask not,
And grudge not going, for the other world
Is everlasting and this transitory.1
Abstain from greed and trouble not thyself."
The fifth day he said thus : "I have no joy
In others' toils for mine aggrandisement ;
We toil in quest of jocund Paradise ;
He that hath sown but seed of good is blest."
The sixth day said he to his subjects : " Never
May we ensue defeat ; we will protect
Our troops from foes and make malignants tremble."
The seventh day, when he took his seat, he said : —
" Ye chiefs wise, wary, and experienced !
Since with the vile we practise villainy
We will have conversation with the wise.
Ye that are cold to me shall fare still worse
Than with my sire, but ye that do my will
Must not experience sorrow, pain, and toil."
The eighth day, when he took his seat, he bade
Call Jawanwi of those about the court,
And said to him : "To every mighty man,
To every chief and clime, indite for me
A letter couched in just and loving terms,
And say : * Bahram hath mounted on the throne
With joy — a lord of bounty and of right,
A shunner of all fraud and knavery —
1 Reading with P.
BAH RAM GUR 9
For he hath Grace and stature, love and justice :
The Judge all-holy is in all his thoughts.
" I will accept," he saith, " the obedient,
But fault-condoning maketh faults increase.
J sit upon my glorious father's throne,
I keep the customs of just Tahmuras,1
And treat all justly howsoe'er perverse.
I will be juster than mine ancestors,
And guide you to the Faith — that of Zarduhsht,
The prophet — quitting not my fathers' path.
I put the Faith of old Zarduhsht before me ;
The way of that true prophet is mine own.
Be ye all sovereign in your own affairs,
And guard your marches and your loyalty,
Kings of your children and your women-folk :
Blest is the man that is both wise and pure.
If God accord us life and favouring stars
We will not fill our treasury with gold ;
Such treasures keep the poor in travail. Read
This joyful letter which assureth you
Of lasting wealth and honour. To all kings
Our greeting, most to those whose warp and woof
Are love." ' "
They sealed the letters and made choice
Of glorious envoys. Archmage, man of lore,
And wary cavalier, those letters bore.
How Bahrdm pardoned the Fault of the Iranians, fareweUed
Afunzir and Nu'tndn, and remitted the Iranians' Arrtcan
of Taxes
Next day \vli< ii S..1 KM*, \\ln-n the hills hulked large,
And sleep was broken, to Mun/ir t here came
rTahmtiraasccVol. j. ,,. 126.
io THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSf
A panic-stricken throng and said to him : —
0. 1490 " Make intercession for us with t ho Shall
To pardon our offences, for the crimes
Of Yazdagird so wrought us that the blood
Froze in the nobles' hearts ! So much of foul
In word and deed, iniquity, distress,
And anguish chilled our hearts toward Bahrain
Because we suffered so beneath his sire."
Munzir 's warm pleadings mollified the Shah,
Who being just and noble pardoned all,
Whatever the fault. He decked the imperial palace,
And all the good and great resorted thither.
When they had got the place of majesty
In readiness they seated there the worthy,
In every place they spread the board and called
For wine and harp and minstrelsy. Next day
Another crowd assembled, yet the chief
Was wearied not of giving. On the third
There were both revels and festivities,
And grief was banished from the world-king's palace,
He told the offices done by Nu'man
And by Munzir — those men of stainless birth —
On his behalf, and all the chiefs acclaimed
Those desert dwellings and those men of war.
The Shah next oped his treasury and filled
His palace with brocade and gold, steeds, trappings,
Mail-coats and scents l and gems of every hue.
He gave all to Nu'man and to Munzir,
And Jaw&nwf told o'er to them the gifts.
None matched the Shah in bounty and in travail.
He gave the other Arabs many presents,
So that they left the royal halls, rejoicing.
He then had brought a royal robe of honour,
A steed, and raiment of a paladin ;
These gave they to Khusrau, made much of him,
1 Reading with P.
BAHRAM GUR II
And seated him upon the glorious throne.
Then, turning from Khusrau,1 the king of kings,
Descending from his throne, approached the seat
Where sat Narsi — a prince, his younger brother,
And one with him in heart and tongue. He made
Narsi the captain of the host to set
The land in order, gave up to his keeping
The host at large, and ravished all the realm
With bounty, oped the treasury, and paid
The troops who gladdened with dinars. The Shah,
That man of lore, then bade Gushasp, the scribe,
With prudent Jawanwi, the chief accountant,
Approach, and ordered them to cancel all
Arrears of taxes for the Iranians.
These two wise scribes went to their registers, c. 1491
And in this matter called in aid Kaiwan
Because he was the expert of the day,
And kept the world's statistics in his breast.
They added up the sum of the arrears,
And found it ninety and a hundred times
Three hundred thousand drachms.2 These he forgave,
And burnt the registers, and all tan
Rejoiced thereat. Whenas all folk were ware
Of that event they praised him mightily.
•y all flocked to the Fire-fanes, to the halls
Where New Year's Day and Sada feast were kept,
Flung musk upon the Fire and blessed Bahrain,
The Sh&h. Thereafter he dispatched officials
To go about the world. He sought and gathered
Within a certain city all the exiles
Of Yazdagird that thus the monarch's letter
Might reach those noble Persians, and inquire
Tln-ir \\ islirs, sent each chief a robe of honour,
And gave to each a province that befitted
; ;t i ion. Noble, arch imago, and marchlord,
1 /•/. » Cf. p. 216, note.
12 THE SHAH NAM A OF FlRDAUSt
Whoever heard Bahrain's deliverance,
All visited his court with open hearts,
And blithe of countenance. He bade each suitor
Repair to the high priest and, when the world
Had recognised his bidding, he let stand
A herald at his gate thus to proclaim :—
" Ye subjects of the watchful Shah ! abstain
From sorrow and from sin, and praise henceforth
Him through whose justice earth is prosperous.
Take refuge from the world with God alone,
For He possesseth all and helpeth all.
The man that giveth heed to our command,
Not turning from our path and fealty,
To him will we increase our benefits,
And clear our mind of hate and covetise ;
But whosoever shunneth what is just
Shall suffer retribution at our hands.
If God hereafter shall vouchsafe us strength,
And matters turn out to our heart's content,
We will add benefit to benefit,
And ye shall utter praise on our account."
At these words all the people of Iran
Went full of joy and bright of countenance,
And, as the sovereignty became secure,
Joy waxed and sorrow minished, while the Shah
In feasting, horsemanship upon the Ground,
In sport and polo, full employment found.
§3
How Bahrdm went to the House of LanibaJc, the Water-
carrier, and became his Guest
C. 1492 It happened that Bahrain Gur went one day
With certain warriors to hunt the lion.
BAURAM GtlR j3
An old man, staff in hand, drew near to him,
And said : " God-fearing Shah ! within our city
There are two men, one rich, the other poor.
Now Baraham, the Jew, a miscreant knave,
Is rich in silver and in gold. Lambak,
The water-carrier, is of noble nature,
Fair-spoken, hospitable."
So Bahram
Inquired about the two, their words and ways.
A worthy said : " Lambak, the water-carrier,
0 great, famed, noble king ! is generous,
Doth keep a table, and is well disposed.
He passeth half the day in water-carry ing,
The other half in entertaining guests,
And lea vet h nothing over for the morrow,
While Baraham is but a barren Jew,
And grasping, and his greed should be exposed.
He hath drachms, treasure, and dinars, brocades^
And goods of all kinds, but none seeth his bread,
And he is ever wrathful at a guest." l
The Shah then bade a herald : "Go, proclaim
Before the court : * To every one concerned :
The water of the water-carrier,
Lambak, is bad to drink.' '
He stayed till Sol
Grew pale, then mounted a fleet steed and came,
Like wind, toward the dwelling of Lambak,
Knocked with the ring against the door, and cried :—
" A captain of the Iranian host am I,
Tin- night is dark, and I have far to go.
me lodge here to-night. I will behave
With honour and discretion."
Then Lambak,
I'll ,is( d with the voice of one that spake so fairly,
Made answer straight : " ( onie in, O cavalier !
1 '1 his line is inserted from P.
I4 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And may the king approve thee. It t< -n others
Wen- with thro it were better : each had been
A moon above my head."
Then Shah Bahrain
Dismounted, and Lambak saw to the steed.
He gladly rubbed it down and haltered it .
Then, when Bahrain was seated, ran and brought
A chess-board * and made shift to furnish food,
And all things needful, saying : " Noble sir !
C. 1493 Put by the chess-men and begin thy meal." a
The eating done, the host in high delight
Brought out a cup of wine. The Shah was all
Amazement at that feast of his, kind speech,
And cheery mien, passed night there, and at dawn
Woke at the salutation of Lambak,
Who said : " Thy steed, good sooth, fared ill last
night.
Stay just this one day with me, and if thou
Wouldst have a comrade we will summon one,
And find the needful. Joy with me one day."
The king made answer to the water-carrier : —
" I have not much on hand to-day."
Lambak
Departed, taking divers water-skins,
But nobody appeared to buy his water.
In dudgeon he put off his vest and, taking
His porter's knot and bucket in his arms,
Went and procured instead at the bazar
Meat and dried curds, and in due course put on
The pot. His guest took note of all his trouble.
Lambak prepared the meal ; they ate and drank,
And had another sitting. All that night
Bah ram had wine in hand ; Lambak too loved it.
1 According to the poet's own showing later on, chess was not intro-
duced into Persia till the reign of Niishirwan. See p. 384 seq.
• Couplet omitted.
BAHRAM GUR 15
When it was day he hurried to Bahrain,
And said : "Be merry night and day, and franked
From trouble, grief, and toil. Consort with me
For yet another day, for, know, thy presence
Is life and goods to me."
" Now God forbid
That we should not be happy for a third day,"
Bahram said, while the water-carrier blessed him : —
" Be merry in thy heart and mate with fortune."
He took to the bazar his water-skins
And tackle, which he pledged to some rich man,
Bought what he needed and returned in haste
Rejoicing to Bahram, and said to him : —
" Help with the food, for man must eat."
Bahram
Took the meat promptly from him, cut it up,
And then proceeded with the cookery.
When they had eaten they took wine and goblet,
And first of all drank to the king of kings.
Lambak, when they had drunk, prepared for sleep,
And set a candle by Bahram GUT'S couch.
Tin- fourth day, when the sun shone and Bahram Gur
A \vnkr. his host approached and said : " Famed sir !
Thou hast resided hi this small, dark house,
And doubtless in discomfort ; still if thou C. 1494
Fear'st not the Shah stay hi my mean abode
Two se'nights more if so thou hast a mind."
Th«-n Shah Bahram blessed him and said: "Live
thou
years and months in mirth and happiness.
We have been jolly in this house three days,
Whilo quaffing to the monarchs of the world,
And elsewhere I will speak a word for thee
That shall make bright i hy heart and plans, for why
Thy hospitality shall yield thee fruit,
And, if thou perseverest, thrones and crowns."
16 THE SHAHNAMA OP FlRDAUSt
Dust-swift he put the saddle <>n his steed,
Departed merrily and sought the chase.
He hunted on till ni^ht tin- hills 'gan ride,
Then lightly from his meiny turned aside.
§4
How Bahrdm went to the House of Bardhdm, the Jew,
who treated him scurvily
He stole away and made toward the house
Of barren Baraham, knocked at the door,
And said : " The Shah hath come back from the
chase,
But I was left behind. 'Tis night and I
Know not the way, can find not Shah and escort.
If I may sojourn in this house to-night
I will not trouble any one."
A slave
Went and reported this to Baraham,
Who answered : " Trouble not thyself hereat,
But gay : ' Thou wilt not get a lodging here.' "
The messenger departed to Bahrain Gur,
And said : " There is no shelter here for thee."
Bahrain replied : " Return to him and say :
' I mean to stop. I ask thee for a lodging
To-night and I will trouble thee no further.' "
The servant, hearing this, ran back and said : —
" This horseman will not budge to-night and saith
As much in many words."
Said Bar&ham : —
" Go instantly and say : ' This house is small.
The Jew is very poor and every night
Reposeth, bare and hungry, on the ground/ "
They gave the message, and Bahrain Gur said : —
BAHRAM G$R 17
" If here my lodging will prove troublesome
I will not enter but will sleep outside
The door, 'tis all I want."
Said Baraham : —
" Brave horseman ! thoughtlessly l thou troublest me.
Were any one to rob thee in thy sleep
I should be plagued enough on thine account.
Come in if thou art in distress and want, c. 1495
But on condition that thou askest naught.
I have not e'en a napkin wherewithal
To wipe my body when 'tis washed at death,
Or shroud wherein to wind it."
" My good sir ! "
Bahram rejoined, " I will not trouble thee
In any way. Thy portal will suffice.
I will be watchman, barring bell and cry."
Then Baraham was troubled, and his soul
A brake of cares. He thought : " This saucy fellow
Will not depart. How can I cause him trouble
About his steed ? " then said again : " Great sir !
Thy many words afflict me. If thy steed
Shall leave its droppings here and stale or break
The tiles, thou shalt remove its dung at dawn,
Sweep up, bear off its refuse to the plain,
And pay for any breakages at once."
Bahram replied : "I pledge my head to this."
I Amounting from his steed he tethered it
With its own bridle and unsheathed his sword.
He spread his saddle-cloth, used as his pillow
The saddle, and reposed upon the floor.
The Jew secured the door, brought victuals forth,
AJ id sat him down to eat. " O cavali. r ! "
He said, " remember, having heard, this saw : —
' Who hath may eat and who hath not look on/ '
He answered : "I have heard so from of old,
1 Or "grievously."
VOL. MI. B
18 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSi
And now I have beheld made manifest
What thou hast quoted Horn a sage's words."
.h \\ !>r<mi:lit wine forth and. \\hen satiate
With food and blither fol the drinking, bawled : —
" O toilful horseman ! list this ancient saw : —
Hi that hath food and purposeth to eat
Will oiYer his thanksgiving for the meat,
For one of substance hath a happy mind,
And in his wealth a coat of mail will find ;
But Empty Pockets is a dry -lipped wight ,
And, like thee, ravenous at mid of night.' '
Bahrain replied : ' Tis passing wonderful
What I have seen, and must not be forgotten,
And if thy goblet give thee good at last
Then heigh for drinker, wine, and genial cup ! "
When o'er the mountains Sol displayed its sword
Bahram Gur shunned more sleep and put the saddle
On his fleet grey. His saddle ! Nay, hard pillow.
Came Baraham and said : " O cavalier !
Thou art not faithful to thy word. Thou saidst : —
c 1496 * I w^ sweeP UP the droppings of the steed
At once.' Away with them as thou didst promise.
I am annoyed by a dishonest guest."
Bahram Gur answered : "Go and fetch a slave.
He will remove the droppings fast enough,1
And I will give him gold for sweeping up,
And bearing off, the refuse to the plain."
" No one have I," he said, " to sweep up refuse,
Take it away, and fling it in the ditch.
Break not thy promises deceitfully ;
Let me not say that thou hast played the knave."
Bahram Gur, hearing, took another course.
He had a dainty handkerchief of silk
Inside his boot, all musk and spicery ;
He took it out and put therein the droppings,
1 Beading with P.
BAHRAM GIJR 19
Then flung them all together in the ditch.
Away went Baraham and snatched it up
While Shah Bahrain stood dazed. " Oho ! " said he,
" Thou scrupulous ! If the great king shall hear
Of all thy nobleness he will secure thee
Fr<>m want in this world, and will set thee high
Among the chiefs."
He went back to his palace,
And all night long was planning what to do.
Within his halls thought banished all repose,
11' laughed himself but kept the matter close.
§5
How Bdhrdm bestowed the Wealth of Baraham upon Lambak
Next morn he donned his crown and held an audience,
11 called to him Lambak, the water-carrier,
Who came before him with enfolded arms.
y brought withal and quickly Baraham,
That curst, malicious Jew. When he arrived
They made him sit and called an honest man,
T<> whom the Shah said : " Take some baggage-beasts
•1, acting with the utmost honesty,
Go to the house of Baraham forthwith,
AM! look thnu lu-in^ what thou find'st hoarded there."
That honest man went to the Jew's abode.
Th<- house was all brocade, dinars, and raiment,
All carpet ings, and draperies, and hoards.
re was a caravanserai attached,
And no room too on earth for all the goods —
>ilver, every gem, and, on the top
Of every bag, a lofty diadem.
The archmage's reckoning failed. He called for camels,
20 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSf
A thousand from the desert of Jahram,
C. 1497 And packed the baggage but much still remained.1
That good man drove apace the caravans,
And, when the bells resounded from the court-gate,
Went and informed the Shah : "As many gems
Are here as in thy treasury, yet are left
Two hundred ass-loads ! "
Thought the Shah, amazed : —
" The Jew hath greatly toiled, but to what profit
Since food hath failed him ? "
Then the Shah, the world-lord,
Bestowed a hundred camel-loads of gold,
Of drachms, of carpets, and things great and small
Upon the water-carrier. Lambak
Departed with his treasures. Then the Shah
Called Baraham and said to him : "0 thou
Consorting in thy meanness with the dust !
Dost tell me that thy prophet was long-lived,
And yet bewail life's superfluities ? 2
A horseman came and quoted me this saw,
Out of the sayings of the past, which saith : —
' Hath will enjoy and Hath not withereth.'
So now withdraw thy grasping hand and watch
Henceforth the enjoyment of the water-carrier."
Then to that vile Jew of the synagogue
He spake at large of droppings, handkerchief
Gold -woven, and tiles, bestowed upon the knave
Four drachms, and said : " Take this as capital ;
No more befitteth thee. To mendicants
Thy wealth, to thee thy head."
He gave the poor
All that there was. The Jew departed wailing.
The Shah gave up the house to plundering ;
'Twas well that other folk should have their fling.
1 Reading with P.
* If your prophet managed to live long on little so can you.
BAHRAM G&R 21
§6
How Bahrdm slew Lions and forbade Wine-drinking
He found employment for the hunting cheetah,
Bestirred him and was minded for the chase.
H-- mounted him upon a speedy steed,
And pricked forth to the plain with hawk on hand.
He found a wood that was a rich man's seat.
It was as verdurous as Paradise,
And there was neither man nor beast in sight.
He said : " Here lions should be found. No man
Of prudence would sleep here."
He entered in,
And rode about surveying it. He saw
A lion there and that he must employ
The scimitar. He shouted at the beast
And, when it bravely charged him, rode outside
The forest, blazed forth like Azargashasp, C. 1498
And, when the lion followed, strung his bow,
A hero he, shot and transfixed the creature
Through side and heart ; that of the lioness
Grew all a-flame, and she too charged Bahrain,
Roared out and clawed at him. The cavalier
>te with his sword her loins, and that brave beast
Grave up the fight. Now in the wood there dwelt
A country magnate, a God-fearing man,
Whose name was Mihr Bid ad. That sword-stroke
(harmed him.
With sweet words on his tongue that old man left
wood, drew near the Shah, blessed him, did
And said : " O famous chief ! may fortune's star
Be at thy beck. A rural chief am I,
O holy one ! and owner of this march,
22 THE SHAHNAUA OF FIRDAUSI
This tilth, and mansion, ox and ass and sheep.
Those lions caused me sorrow and despair ;
Now by thy hand, thy thumb-ling, and thy hilt
God hath removal them. Tarry in our wood,1
And I will bring thee milk and wine and honey.
I have as many lambs as thou canst want
With trees fruit -laden that will furnish shade."
The Shah alighted and surveyed the forest ;
He found it verdurous, supplied with streams,
And fitted for a young man's dwelling-place.
Then Mihr Bidad went and fetched minstrelsy
As well as divers of the village-chiefs.
He slaughtered numbers of fat sheep and came,
Gold cup in hand. When they had eaten bread
The servants set on cups of wine with roses
And fenugreek. The host quaffed one and gave
Another to Bahram and took all pains
To set him at his ease. When Mihr Bidad
Grew blithe with wine he said : " Fair-fortuned hero
Thou favourest the Shah or the full moon
At midnight."
Said Bahram : " Yea, that is so ;
The King of kings designed this face of mine.
He maketh as He willeth, waxing not
Nor waning, but if I am like the Shah
Then I have given thee this seat and forest."
This said, he mounted, sought his pleasure-palace,
Bemused, but sleepless in the garth all night
Romanced about the lips of the beloved.
C. 1499 Next morn he took his seat and called for wine.
The captains of the host approached rejoicing,
And with the others came a noble man
Who from his village brought a gift of fruit —
Pomegranate, apple, quince, in camel-loads,
And posies fashioned for imperial use.
1 Reading with P.
BAHRAM GUR 23
.vorld-lord, seeing him, saluted him,
And seated him among the paladins.
I lord that brought the posies and the fruit
Bore in the olden tongue the name Kinvi.
While he was joying to behold the Shah,
The nobles, and the banquet-hall, he spied
A crystal goblet filled with wine which proved
His ruin. Reaching out among the lords
He grasped it, rose, and drank " The king of kings ! "
Then cried : " A toper I, my name Kinvi.
Since in the presence of the king of kings
I drain the goblet I will drain again."
This said, he drained the goblet seven times,
And distanced all the other revellers.
Then by the Shah's permission he departed
To learn if he could bear off all that wine._
He left the jovial city for the plain,
And when the wine was warm within his breast
He galloped from among his retinue
Toward the hills, dismounted, chose him out
A quiet, shady spot, and slumbered. Came
A black crow from the mountains and pecked out
yes ! His escort following found him dead
• yeless with his roadster by his side,
And wailed oVr him and at such revelry.
Now when Bahram had \\ak< m>d in his chamber
A courtier came to him, and said : *' A crow
II h pecked out both Kirwfs bright eyes while he
Was lying drunk among the hills."
The world-lord
\v pale of cheek thereat and sorrowful.
And fmin the palace proclamation issued : —
* Ye men of name endowed with Grace and sense !
•10 is a thing forbidden in the world
Ahkr t.. pnl.idin and artisan."
Hi us passed a year while all held wine forbidd< n
24 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
E'en when the Shah himself held revelry,
Or called for talcs from old time legendry.
§7
The Story of the young Shoemaker, and how Bahrdm
allowed Wine again
C. 1500 Now at that time a young shoemaker wedded
A virtuous wife, rich and of good repute,
But failed in nuptial duty, and his mother
Lamented bitterly his grievous case.
Howbeit she had some wine in store. She took
Her son to her own house and bade the youth : —
" Drink seven cups to hearten thee. Perchance
Thou mayest break this stubborn seal to-night.
How can a woollen mattock mine in stone ? "
He quaffed cups seven or eight, and verily
His feet and hide waxed strong. The cups had made
The young man confident ; he came, achieved
His purpose, and then went back to his mother
In high delight thereat, and thus it chanced :
A lion of the Shah's had broken loose,
And came along the road. Now at the time
The shoemaker was still in drink — a sea
That made his fingers thumbs. He ran, bestrode
The roaring lion, and then reaching out
He clutched its ears. The lion had been fed ;
The youth maintained his seat. Post-haste the keeper
Came running after them, a chain in one hand,
A lasso in the other. He beheld
A shoemaker upon the lion's back,
Perched there like some bold rider on an ass,
Kan to the palace-gate, came unabashed
Before the Shah, and told about the wonder
BAHRAM G&R 25
That he had seen, with his own eyes, and none
Beside had heard. The world-lord all amazed
Called the high priest and chiefs, and bade the former: —
" See what the stock of this shoemaker is.
If he shall prove a paladin by birth
Tis well, for courage fitteth paladins."
They sought and asked his mother : "Is his rank
Above his station ? "
When the talk grew long
She hurried to the Shah and told him all,
First doing her obeisance and exclaiming : —
" Live happily till time shall be no more.
This youth, who had not come to man's estate,
Must take himself a partner and keep house,
And then prove impotent ! His wife, she said : —
* This weakling was self-sown ! ' All privily
I gave to him three cups of wine, and none
In all the world was ware thereof. Forthwith
It flushed his cheeks and made a man of him. C. 1501
Three cups of wine are his nobility ;
Who could imagine that the Shah would wish
To hear thereof ? Shoemaker was his granddad,
And so is he, and not by birth above
His trade."
The Shah smiled on the crone, and said : —
" This is no tale to hide."
He thus addressed
The archmage : " Wine is now permissible,
And we should drink thereof to his extent
Who in his cups still can bestride a lion,
And not be overthrown, but not to his
Who lirth all dead-drunk upon the road
What \vhilr some black crow pecketh out his eyes."
A proclamation went up from the gate : —
" O paladins who wear the golden girdle !
in niMil. i at ion, all of you !
26 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Considering the end when ye begin,
And when the wine hath k>d you to delight
Then go to sleep but not in helpless plight."
§ 8
How Ruzbih, Bahrain's High Priest, ruined a Village
by a Stratagem and restored it
The third day at the dawn the Shah went forth,
He and his men, to hunt upon the plain ;
Hurmuz, his minister, was on his left,
And on his right the holy archimage.
They told him tales, discoursing of Jamshid
And Faridun.1 Before them were the hounds,
The cheetahs, hawks, and falcons. Thus they shortened
The tedious day. Bright Sol was high, but still
They saw no trace of deer or onager,
And so Bahram Gur, troubled by the heat,
Turned back in dudgeon from the hunting-field.
He came upon a verdurous spot fulfilled
With houses, men, and cattle. Many folk
Came from the settlement to see the troops,
But no man did obeisance ! Thou hadst said : —
" The earth hath tethered every ass of them ! "
The monarch, vexed and overcome by heat,
Had fixed upon that village for a halt.
Its folk disgusted him, he viewed them not
With favour, and in anger thus addressed
The high priest : " What an ill-starred spot is this !
Be it a lair for wild beasts and for game,
And may its streams run pitch."
The archimage,
Who took this for an order, turned aside
1 See Vol. i. pp. 129 scq, 147 seq.
BAH RAM GUR 27
Toward the village and informed the folk : — C. 1502
" This verdant spot — all fruitage, men, and cattle —
Hath Lrivutly }>!• -a>» d Bahram, the king of kings,
Who hath a new design respecting it.
He raiseth all of you to noble rank
To turn this pKusnnt village to a city.
Here, lord and hireling, ye shall be all equal.
Men, women, children, ye shall be all chiefs,
Each of you be the master of the village."
Glad shouts rose from that prosperous settlement
Because the people were all lords alike.
Thenceforth, man's rede or woman's, 'twas all one,
And slave and hireling were their master's peers.
The village-youths, no longer checked by awe,
Cut off their elders' heads, then fell upon
Each other and, where roads were not, shed blood.
At that to-do folk fled incontinent.
The helpless aged remained, but there remained not
The implements of culture, goods, and crops.
The settlement had ruin in its face,
Th<- trees were withered and the streams ran dry,
The land and houses were all desolate,
And shunned of man and beast. Now when a year
Had passed and spring returned the monarch went
A-hunting in those parts and reached that spot
Erst populous and blithe, and saw the place
nmird. tivt-s \\itln-red, habitations waste,
And not a man or beast throughout the march.
Deal th< Shah turned pale, the fear of God
Came on him, he was grievously distressed,
And thus addressed the archmage : " O Ruzbih !
Alack ! this place so jocund once is ruim-d !
Go to now and restore it with my treasures,
And t;ike such order that the folk henceforth
Be scathless."
Going fn>m the royal presence
28 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
The archmage sped forth to that scene of ruin.
From street to street he hurried and at last
Game on an old man unemployed. Dismounting
He spake the elder fair, made him sit down
Near by, and said to him : " Old, honoured sir !
Who wrecked this district once so populous ? "
The old man answered thus : " Our monarch once
Was passing through our parts, and thereupon
There came to us a witless arch image,
One of those useless people with big names,
And said to us : * Ye all are chieftains here :
See that ye pay respect to nobody.
Be masters, all of you, both men and women,
And great among the great/ Such were his words,
C. is°3 And all the township was convulsed thereat,
All rapine, murder, stick ! May God befriend him
In like proportion, may grief, death, and hardship
Ne'er stale with him. Our case is growing worse,
And such that folk must weep for us."
Ruzbih,
Grieved for that old man, asked : " Who is your
chief ? "
The other answered : " Who will have a place
Where there is naught excepting seed and grass ? "
Ruzbih replied : "Be thou the governor,
Be as the crown upon the head in all things,
Make requisition from the world-lord's treasures
For money, oxen, asses, grain, and produce ;
Bring to the village all the unemployed ;
They all are subjects, thou alone art chief,
And curse no more the ancient archimage,
Who spake not as he would in what he said.
If thou wilt have assistants from the court
I will dispatch them. Ask for what thou wilt."
The elder joyed to hear this and was freed
From longsome grief. Ho hied him home forthwith,
BAH RAM GOR 29
Brought others to his Cistern and began
To people and apportion out the lands.
They borrowed from their neighbours ox and ass,
And furnished all the plain. He and his settlers
Worked hard and planted many trees on all sides,
And, when his labour had restored one piece,
The hearts of those that dwelt therein rejoiced.
Those that had fled, their heart's blood in their eyes,
Flocked back on hearing of that restoration,
And of the toils of that white-headed chief,
And reinstated street and water-course,
While fowl, ox, ass, and sheep all multiplied
Upon the cultured parts, and everywhere
Folk planted trees till that waste spot became
Like Paradise. The third year he restored
Thr to\\n : the chief was blessed in all his labours.
When jocund spring came round the Shah went forth
Upon the plain a-hunting with Ruzbih,
The high priest. When the pair drew near the hamlet
Bahram Gur suddenly beheld the world
All crops and cattle, lofty mansions rose,
And all the township thronged with sheep and oxen.
'Twas all streams, pleasances, and growing crops,
And fenugreek and tulips filled the hills,
reon roamed sheep and lambs, for hill and dale
Had grown to be a paradise. The Shah
Said to the hi^rh priest : " O Ruzbih ! what didst thou C. 1504
To make this verdant village waste and scatter
Its men and beasts, and what hast thou dispensed
In thus restoring it ? "
The high priest answered : —
"This ancient seat was ruined by a word,
And by a word restored, to please the Shah.
H« bade me : ' Take thou treasure and dinars,
And make this verdant spot a wilderness/
But I feared God and blame from great and small.
30 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
When friends, though one in heart, are two in aim
Tis ruin, as I have perceived, to both ;
So when there are two mlers in a state
Their land will be oVrtmr.ed. I went and said
Thus to the elders of this settlement : —
' O men ! there is no ruler over you
From this time forth, but women, children, slaves,
Hirelings and husbandmen, are lords alike/
When those who had been underlings became
Lords too the nobles' heads were all brought low,
And all the place was ruined by a word.
Thus was I far removed from all reproach,
And apprehension of God's chastisement.
Thereafter, when the Shah had ruth on them.
I went and pointed out another course ;
I made a wise, old man and eloquent,
A man of leading and informed, the ruler.
He laboured and restored the waste, rejoicing
His subjects' hearts. When one man ruled, the counsel
Was good, prosperity increased, ill waned.
I, unobserved, had shown them what was bad,
And opened afterward the way of God.
Discourse is better than fine-watered gems
When 'tis employed aright. Let wisdom be
The Shah, the tongue the paladin, if thou
Wouldst have thy spirit easy. May thy heart
Be glad for aye and free from wile and waste."
The Shah, on hearing, cried : " Well done, Ruzbih !
Thou'rt worthy of a crown ! "
Bahram Gur gave
That old man worshipful and prescient
A purse all filled with gold dinars. For him
A robe of honour too they fashioned
Of royal stuffs, and cloud-ward raised his head.
BABRAlt GtiR 31
§9
Haw Bahrdm married a Country-miller's Daughters
Another week the monarch of the world
Went forth to hunt with lords and archimages,
Prepared to spend a month upon the chase,
To revel with his meiny, and to take
Illimitable game on waste and mountain. c. 1505
II' and his escort reached in merry pin
A town. The night came on, and all was dark.
The chiefs dismissed the escort and recited
Tales of the Shahs. He saw afar a fire,
Such as Shahs kindle on Bahman's high day.1
The king of kings gazed at the light and spied
A pleasant village with a mill before it,
Where sat the village-chiefs, while all the maidens,
Each with a crown of roses on her head,
Were feasting by themselves beside the fire.
The minstrels sat about, the maidens sang
Tales of the royal wars, and every one
Began to tell a story in her turn.
y all were moon -faced, all had locks a-curl,
All were sweet-spoken, and all savoured musk.
They sat ranked on the grass and close before
Tin- mill-door, singing, with a posy each,
And half bemused with wine and merriment .
Thru from that scene of revel rose a cry,
And one exclaimed : " The toast of Shah Bahrain !
II' hath Grace, stature, mien, and love. Before him
The rolling sphere upstandeth. Thou wouldst say : —
'His face dist illetli wine, the scent of mu^k
• i-eedeth I mm his hair.' He only Imnteth
Th«- lion and the onager
Folk title him ' Bahrain Cm.
This he heard,
1 Tho day Bah man of the month Bah man was a time of festivity.
32 THE SHAHNAllfA OP FIRDAUSI
And rode toward them. Drawing near the girls
He scanned the plain, beheld it filled with Moons,
And saw that he should stop short of the city.
He bade, and from the road cup-bearers came,
Provided wine and boon-companions,
And handed him a crystal cup. Meanwhile
Four of the girls, those chief in rank, came forth —
One Mushkinab,1 the others Mushkinak,
Naztab, and Susanak. With cheeks like spring,
With stately mien, and hand in hand, they went
Before the Shah and sang about Bahram,
The king of kings, the wise and prosperous.
Bahram Gur asked, for they perturbed his heart : —
" Who are ye,2 rose-cheeked ? Wherefore is this fire? "
One said : " O cavalier of cypress-height,
So like a king in everything ! our father
C. 1506 Is an old miller who is shooting game
Upon this mountain and will come anon
Since it is night, and he can see no longer."
With that the miller and his men came bringing
Their quarry. When his eyes fell on Bahram Gur
He rubbed his face upon the dust and bare him
With awe and reverence. The Shah bade give
That old man just arrived a golden cup,
And said to him : " Why keepest thou these four
With sunny faces thus ? Is it not time
For them to wed ? "
The old man offered praise,
And said : " There is no husband for them ; they
Are maidens still and pure in chastity,
But that is all the property they have,
And this is all that I can say for them."
1 Mushkinaz in C. and P. Mushkinab means " Pure Musk " ; Mush-
kinak is a species of bird ; Naztab is " Charmer," and Sdsanak " Little
Lily."
1 Reading with P.
BAHRAM GUR 33
Bahrain said : " Give me all the four, and henceforth
Regard them not as daughters."
Quoth the ancient : —
" Do not as thou hast said, 0 cavalier !
No cups have we, no land, no crops, no silver,
No mansion, ox, and ass."
Bahrain GUT said : —
'Tis well, for I would have them portionless."
The miller said : " The four shall be thy wives,
The handmaids of the dust within thy chambers.
Thine eye hath seen their good points and their ill,
And, seeing, hath approved."
Bahram Gur said : —
" From holy God, the All-giver, I accept them."
He spake and rose. Steeds neighed upon the plain.
He bade the eunuchs of his escort bear
Those Idols to the royal women's house,
And through the night the troops filed o'er the was
The miller marvelled, mused all night, and said
Thus to his wife : " This moon -like lord so tall
And masterful, how came he here by night ? "
She answered : "He perceived the fire from far,
The noise the girls were making, and the sound
Of minstn -Is, harp, and revelry."
The miller
L to his wife : " Advise me, O my spouse !
It this alVair will turn out well or ill ? "
She answered : " It is all God's providence,
man, on seeing them, asked not their race,
Thought not of dowry. On earth's face he sought
For Moons and not for money or kings' daughters.
If idol -wn r>l uppers saw these in <
There would be no more idol -\\orshipping ! "
Thus till above the Raven's back the sun t\ 1507
Rose, and the world grow like a shining lamp,
y talked at large of base and upright men,
VOL. VII. O
34 THE SHAHNAMA OF FJRDAUSI
But with the day the village-chief arrived,
And said to that old man : "0 brave of luck ! l
Good fortune visited thy couch last night !
The verdant branches of thy tree bear fruit.
One looked, beheld the merriment and fire,
And, having turned his horse about, drew near ;
So now thy daughters have become his wives,
And rest securely in his women's house.
By giving them such faces, hair, and carriage
Thou didst prepare them for the Shah ! Bahram,
The king of kings, is now thy son-in-law !
Henceforth thou wilt be famous through the realm.
He hath bestowed upon thee all this province
And march, so sorrow not, for thou hast 'scaped
From cares and fears. Command. 'Tis thine to bid
We all of us are thralls and bound to thee ;
We all of us are subject to thee now,
Are subject ! Rather we are all thy slaves."
The miller and his wife in their amaze
Invoked God's name. The village-chieftain said : —
" Such locks as those and countenances too
Would bring the sun from his fourth heaven to woo."
§ 10
How Bahram found the Treasures of Jamshid and
bestowed them upon the Poor
Another week he went forth to the chase
With favourites from the host and archimages.
Swift as the wind there came a loyal liege
With spade in hand and asking of the troops
Where was Bahram, the Shah, amid the throng ?
An archimage replied : " What wilt thou ? Speak,
* " 0 vaillant Rouzbeh." Mohl.
BAHRAM GUR 35
Thou canst not see the monarch of the world." l
The man said : " Since I may see not his face
I will speak not before his followers."
They brought before the Shah that seeker — one
Both learned and eloquent — who seeing him
Said : "I have words to speak to thee in private."
Bahrain Gur turned his horse's head aside,
And rode some distance from his followers' sight.
Then said the man : " O world -possessing Shah !
Thou must observe my words. A countryman
Am I, and landlord here. I own the soil,
The homestead, and the crops. I was engaged
In making water-courses on my land
To benefit my property, and when
Tin-re was much water, and the stream ran strong,
In one place there was formed an orifice,
A wondrous clamour reached mine ears, and I C. 1508
Came crying out in terror of my life.
Tln'4clash of cymbals issued from the stream —
A sound denoting treasure." 2
Hearing this
Baliram Gur went and saw a plain all verdure,
And watered, bade bring labourers with spades
From far, and lighted from his steed. They pitched
I 1 tent among the crops. Night came. The warriors
1 1 lamps and everywhere enkindled fires.
Now when the sun sot up above the deep
Mnner, burnishing tin- violet air,
•Aorkmen mustered from all sides, as though
A mighty army, and began to dig.
t portion of the plain was excavate,
And. as thr workers wearied, there appeared
Out o! tin dust a mount -like place — a mansion
Of mortar and luirnt brick — like Paradise.
They plied their picks ; far down a doorway showed .
1 Reading with P. Vol. vi. p. 250.
36 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSt
An archmage, seeing, entered by the door,
He and another uninvited guest.
They found a single chamber long and wide,
And many cubits high. Within it stood
Two buffaloes of gold and, fronting them,
A golden laver strewn with emeralds
And rubies mixed. They seemed two Signs of Taurus,
Were hollow, and were filled up with pomegranates,
With apples, and with quinces that contained
Fine-watered pearls, each like a water-drop.
The buffaloes had jewel-eyes, and heads
Decayed with age. Ranked round them there were
lions
And onagers, some having ruby eyes,
And others crystal. There were golden pheasants
And peacocks, with their breasts and eyes all gems.
The minister, whose wisdom was a crown
Upon the moon, on seeing that spectacle,
Went to the Shah and cried excitedly : —
" Arise. Enough to dower thy treasuries
Is here ! A chamber filled with precious stones
Is manifest, whose key high heaven hath kept ! "
His lord said : " One of counsel and of might
Would write his name upon his treasures. See
Whose name is there and when they were amassed."
On hearing this the high priest went and saw
The impress of the signet of Jamshid
Upon the buffaloes, and notified
The monarch of the world : "I have beheld,
And ' Shah Jamshid ' is on the buffaloes."
0. 1509 The SI ah said : " O high priest in all regards
More learned than sages ! wherefore make mine own
The treasures that Jamshid laid up of yore ?
May nothing e'er be added to my wealth
Unless by justice and the scimitar.
Bestow the whole upon the poor. God grant
BAHRAM GUR 37
That no mishap befall us. For my troops
No share is requisite, our valour openeth
The earth to us. As is the use of kings
'Tis needful that we count up all this wealth,
Sell all the gems for cash, and then assemble
From desert and from settlement the widows,
The orphans, and the impoverished men of name —
Those lost to aspiration, fame, and ease —
Then take the sum of such, including those
That, troubled by their debts, should have a share,
And give to them the money and the goods
To assoil Jamshid the world-lord's soul, but I
Am youthful still, and sound in wind and limb ;
Why should I seek his treasures ? Let one tenth
Be for the finder, who sought out the Shah,
But never let him hope for joy hereafter
That beareth off the cerecloth from Jamshid.
To compass toil in consort with my troops,
And treasure and renown from Rum and Chin,
That is for me and for my steed, Shabdiz,
And for my trenchant scimitar. No shifts,
Or shirks, for me ! "
He went back to the treasure
\\<»n by his sweat and toil, assembled all
warriors of the realm, and gave his troops
A whole year's pay. He held a feast that spring,
Adorned his hall of jewelled tracery,
i . when the red wine shone in crystal cups,
: he himself was jocund and right glad,
hus harangued his ti i< mU : " Exalted ones,
Who know the token of the throne of kings I
Down from Hushang as far as famed Naudar,
Who was a memory of Farfdun .
1 en a<rain right up to Kai Kubad,
Who placed the crown of great m — <-n his IK ad,
See who of all these mighty nu-n is left,
38 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSf
And who remain* -th to applaud tin ir justice ?
Now, since the circle of their years is cut,
Their reputation is their monument,
Which saith that this had spirit, that had not,
And one doth blame them, and another praise.
We all shall pass in turn, and not to walk
C 1510 The world for ill is well. Why should I need
The treasure of those gone ? Why should my heart
Expand toward dinars ? I will not set it
Upon this Wayside Inn, or make my boast
Of crown, or clutch at treasure. If the days
Pass in delight why should the wise eat grief ?
Whene'er a liege of mine, a countryman
Or courtier, shall complain of mine oppression
Then may my head and crown and treasure perish."
There was an ancient man, hight Mahiyar,
Whose years had reached eight score and four. He
rose,
On hearing this, and spake thus : " O just lord !
Tales have we heard of Farfdiin, Jamshid,
And others more or less renowned, but none
Hath heard of Shah like thee — the lowly's hope,
The Glory of the great — and were the sea
Large as thy heart 'twould rise in waves of gems,
For from thy soul the radiance of Surush
Proceedeth, dwarfing all a wise man's wit.
Thou hast so lavished treasure in the world
That no one great or small hath seen the like.
When men spake of the era of Jamshid,
And of the treasure of the buffaloes,
None wotted where it was — beneath the dust,
Or in the dragon's breath — but having found it
Thou didst not look thereon, for thou didst scorn
This Wayside Hostelry. Good sooth ! no king
Hath seen, nor will a hundred see, such jewels
As these in any sea, yet these and all
BAHRAM GtiR 39
The buffaloes and onagers thou gavest
Without exception to the poor ! May crown
And girdle never lack thee. Health be thine,
Be victor thou and fortune's favourite.
The ink would blacken many a royal roll
To tell this tale and yet not reach the end.
Thou being gone thy name will live in praise
When folk recount the story of thy days."
§n
How Bahrdm, returning from Hunting, went to the House
of a Merchant and departed displeased
One day, another week, he went to hunt,
When indisposed, and took his bow and arrows.
The plain grew sultry with the blazing sun.
He came back from his hunting leisurely,
And reached a merchant's house, to whom he said,
On looking round and seeing none beside :
" Canst give us lodging since thou wilt not find us
A trouble ? "
Having helped him to dismount C. 1511
The merchant found a place for him. The Shah,
Complaining of the colic, gave the merchant
Some drachms, and said : " Toast some old cheese
with almonds."
The merchant did not do as he was asked,
Not having almonds by him, but, at night-fall
And at his leisure, got a hot roast fowl,
And served it to Bahrain upon a tray,
Who said : " I asked thee for old cheese, besought thee
To bring it, and t h<»u hast not brought it me
Ah hough I gave thee drachms and had complained
Of colic."
Said the merchant : " Foolish follow 1
40 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Thy soul is starving through thy lack of wit.
Since I have brought to tlu-r this hot roast fowl
M- •:•• me -h'-nltl stay t lire asking aught beside."
Bahrain thereat ceased longing for old cheese.
Grieved at his words he ate, referring not
To what had passed. When it was sleeping-tune
H« slept and said naught further to the merchant.
Now when the sun rose o'er the heaving deep,
And wlu'ii the Cloak pitch-hued had disappeared,
The wealthy merchant said to his apprentice : —
" 0 simpleton ! why didst thou buy a fowl
Not worth a drachm for more and wrong me so ?
Had't been a proper fowl then he and I
Had fallen not out last night, or hadst thou spent
A quarter of a drachm in buying cheese
He would have been to me like milk and water
To-day."
The apprentice answered : ' 'Tis all one.
Know that the fowl is at my charge. Be thou
And he my guests, so quarrel not with me
About the bird."
Now when Bahrain arose
From pleasant sleep he sought his docile steed
To saddle it and go back to his palace,
And from his palace raise his crown to Saturn.
The apprentice, seeing him, said to Bahrain :—
" Give to thy slave thy company to-day."
The Shah returned, sat down again, and mar-
velled
At fortune. Then the youth went out and fetched
Two hundred almonds and addressed his master : —
" Bestir thee, sir ! and have these almonds toasted,
Make ready too some cheese and some new bread,
For such the cavalier asked yesterday,
Bring food and spread the board."
He went before
BAHRAM G&R 41
Bahrain and said : " O cavalier ! I bring thee
All hot what yesterday thou didst require, C. 1512
And there is more to follow in due course."
Thus saying he set off to the bazar,
A different sort of purchaser. He bought
More almonds, sugar, fowl, and lamb to make
An ample meal, wine, saffron, musk, rose-water,
And hurried home. He brought the board all spread
With dainty meats. A sprightly youth was he
And well disposed. The eating done, he brought
Forth cups of wine, first serving king Bahrain,
And thus, till blithe and jocund, they proceeded
From eating to the cup. The Shah addressed
His entertainer thus : " Bahrain will be
Inquiring for me, but do ye drink on,
Grow drunk, and budge not till ye prove yourselves
Wine-worshippers/ '
Then rubbing down and saddling
Shabdfz he started, blithe with wine, for court,
First saying to the merchant : " Toil not so
In quest of gain, 0 thou that sellest dear !
Thou wouldst have sold me for a quarter drachm
Yestreen, sewn up the eyes of thine apprentice
Because he bought a fowl above the price,
And have put me within the dragon's maw."
He spake and sped back to his royal seat.
Now when the sun displayed its crown in heaven
The guardian of the world sat on his throne
vory and bade the chamberlain
Seek out the merchant and conduct him thither
With his apjnvni icr. One of them was glad,
>t her glum. Bahrain, on seeing the apprentice,
Made much of him and seated him rejoicing
Among the lords. They brought to him a purse,
And mad*- his awe-gloomed spirit like the moon.
Th« n to the merchant said Bahrain : " Know tin
42 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Thou shalt be slave for life to thine apprentice,
And, further, pay him twice in every month
Three score drachms from thy savings. With thy
goods
Ho shall be entertainer and make laugh
The hearts of noble men."
Then to the high priest : —
" The king that disregardeth this world's doings,
How can he know what man is truly great,
Or how discern the evil from the good ? " 1
So now, O sage that seekest wisdom's way !
If thou must have a saw hear what I say : —
" Avoid all avarice if man thou be,
Or be indeed below humanity."
§ 12
How Bahrain slew a Dragon and went to a Yokel's House
C. 1513 Bahram abode a season with his lords,
With sparkling wine, with cup, and minstrelsy.
Spring came, the ground seemed Paradise, the air
Sowed tulips on earth's face, all tracts grew full
Of game, and in the brooks the waters seemed
Like wine and milk. The deer and onager
Paced in the dales or clustered on the sward,
The blackbirds haunted all the river-banks,
And all around them bent pomegranate-blooms.
" JTis long," the nobles said to Shah Bahram Gur,
" Since we have hunted onager."
He answered : —
" Choose we a thousand horsemen from the host,
And let them bring the cheetahs and the hawks,
1 In C the next section begins here. We follow the arrangement in P.
BAHRAM GVR 43
The falcons and the noble peregrines,
Go to Turan and pass a month in hunting."
The royal hunter went. He found the world
All hues and scent. His gallant chieftains swept it
For onager, gazelle, and mountain-sheep —
A labour that extended o'er two days —
What while Bahram had wine in hand ; the third,
When Sol illumed its crown, when earth grew golden.
And hill and stream became as ivory,
The valiant Shah went to the chase and saw
A dragon like a lion. From its head
Hair hung down to the ground, and it had breasts
Like those of women. Then Bahram Gur strung
1 ! bow and shot forthwith a poplar arrow
Against the dragon's chest. He shot another
Straight at its head, and gore and venom flowed
Adown its front. The king dismounted, drew
1 1 is sword, and carved up all the dragon's breast.
It had gulped down a youth and frozen him
In blood and bane. Bahram bewailed him sorely
What while the venom blinded his own eyes.
He took the corpse out of the dragon's maw,
Ne'er may its head and breast unite again.
He rode off dizzied, suffering, and longing
For sleep and water, reached a settlement ,
Arriving at a house-door from the waste,
And saw a woman shouldering a pitcher.
She veiled her face from him. He said to her : —
" Can I lodge here or must I toil on still ? "
She said : " Brave horseman ! treat this house as
thine."
On hearing this ho rode his courser in.
His hostess called her husband. ' Bring a wisp,"
She said, " and rub his steed. At feeding-time
Feed from the sack."
She went to her own chamber, C. 1514
44 THE SHAHNAMA OP FIRDAUSl
Swept out the house and laid down mat and pillow,
With blessings on Bahrain, went to the cistern,
w water, and berated to herself
Her spouse the while : " The fool will ne'er bestir
Himself on seeing some one in the house.
This is not women's work, but for my part
I, soldier-like, can only grin and bear it ! "
She brought and spread the board with vinegar
And salad, bread and curds. Went Shah Bahrain,
And bathed his face, for he had been o'erwrought
In fighting with that dragon. So he ate
A little, then lay down and groaned, his face
Concealed beneath a kerchief made in Chin.
The woman, when she woke, said to her spouse : —
" O knave with unwashed face ! thou shouldest slay
A lamb because this cavalier is great,
And of the royal seed, hath kingly bearing,
And moon-like Grace, and he is like to none
Save Shah Bahr&m."
Her mean spouse said to her : —
" Why such to-do ? Thou hast no salted meat,
No fire-wood, and no bread, and spinnest not
A-nights as others do. When thou hast killed
A lamb, and he — this cavalier — hath eaten
And gone, then go, buy, mingle with the throng ;
The winter, cold, and blast undoubtedly
Will come on thee no less."
So spake her spouse.
She hearkened not, for she was good and wise,
And in the end her husband slew a lamb
At her entreaty for the cavalier.
When it was slain she made a pot of broth,
And lit a fire with half-burnt sticks, then brought
The tray with eggs thereon and water-cresses,
A roasted leg of lamb and everything
That she had cooked. Bahram, when he had washed
BAHRAM GUR 45
Hifl hands, his dinner done, felt indisposed
For slumber and still ailed. Now when the night
Foregathered with the sun the woman fetched
Wine and a harp. " O woman of few words ! "
The Shah said, " tell to me some old-world tale
That while thou art reciting I may quaff
To chase away my pain and cares. I give thee
Five speech about the Shah for praise or blame."
That woman of few words said : " Yea, 'tis well,
For he is first and last in everything."
Da lira in responded : " He is so indeed,
But he is just and good to nobody."
That dame of spirit said : " 0 honest man !
This place hath many folk and many homes,
And always cavaliers are passing through C. 1515
From public offices and ministers.
If one of them shall call a man a thief
The accused will have much trouble afterward.
The cavalier to compass some few drachms
Will make the poor man's life a misery,
Or one may smirch some honest woman's fame,
And make her fall to folly. This is loss,
Because the treasury is none the richer.
This is our trouble with our Shah, the world-lord."
The king grew full of thought at that account-
How those in power were wronging his good name —
t hen the pious Shah thought with himself :—
" No one doth praise the just. Henceforward I
Will play the tyrant for a while that love
And justice may grow manifest from ill."
Vexed by dark thoughts he passed a sleepless night ,
His heart allied to tyranny the while.
Now when Sol rent its musky-scented veil.
And showed its face in heaven, the woman left
house and bade her spouse : " Bring pot and fu
And in the water put all kinds of grain
46 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSf
Before the sun shall see it. Mind it well
While I go milk the cow."
She brought the cow
From pasture, got much grass, and threw it down
Before her ; then she tried the udders, crying : —
" In God's name who hath neither mate nor peer ! "
She found the udder milkless, and the heart
Of that young hostess aged. She told her husband : —
" Good man ! our monarch's heart hath changed in
purpose,
The world's king hath become tyrannical !
A secret change came o'er his heart last night."
He said : " What words are these ? Why go and
croak ? "
She thus replied : " My dear one ! what I say
Is sober truth, for when the Shah, the world-lord,
Hath grown unjust the moon may shine not forth
In heaven, the udders are dry, the musk-bags lose
Their scent, adultery and guile are rampant,
The tender heart becometh flinty, wolves
Devour folk on the waste, the sage doth flee
The fool, and eggs are addled 'neath the hens
What time the Shah becometh tyrannous.
The pasture of this cow had minished not,
Her watering-place supplied her as before,
Yet is her udder dry, her lowing changed."
On hearing this the Shah forthwith repented ,
C. 1516 And prayed to God : " O Thou who art supreme,
Almighty, and the Arbiter of fortune !
If e'er my heart shall turn away from justice
Then be the throne of kings no longer mine."
That blessed dame, who worshipped holy God,
Tried with her hand the udder once again,
She tried it in the Lord's name, saying thus : —
" Cause Thou the milk to flow."
The milk flowed forth.
BAHRAM GUR 47
The good wife cried : " O God, our Succourer !
Thou hast recalled to justice the unjust,
For, if not so, this virtue were not his."
Then said she to the master of the house :—
" The justice of the unjust is restored.
Laugh and. rejoice ; this is the Maker's boon
To us."
Now when the porridge had been cooked,
And man and wife had done that chare, the good dame,
And after her the master of the house,
Who bare the tray, went to their guest. Upon it
Tht -re was a bowl of porridge, oh ! how good
Had it been but some broth ! The Shah ate somewhat,
Tin -ii spake thus to that kindly dame : " Take thou
This whip outside and hang it where folk pass.
Choose out a proper bough because the wind
Must harm it not, then note the passers by
With one eye on the whip."
The good-man went
Forthwith, he hung the whip upon a tree,
And kept his eye thereon a while. There came
Innumerable troops along the road,
And all that saw the whip there hailed Bahrain.
They lighted down before that lengthy whip,
And passed saluting. " Tis the Shah, none else !"
The good -man told his spouse. " Naught but the
tin-one
Could fit a face like that ! "
Then full of awe
Both ran to him and cried : " O Shah ! O great I
O mighty one ! 0 sage, high priest and world -lord !
A humble woman and her gardener-spouse
Have been thy poor hosts in this house. Withal
Th<-y did not do their U-st. We ne'er suspected
That 'twas the Shah, that such an one as he
Would come to this place as a guest, would come
48 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
To this poor home of ours."
Bahrain replied : —
11 Good friend ! I give to thee this march, the land,
And village. Be thou ever hospitable ;
Be that, and give up garden-work."
He spake,
And laughing left the house, gat on his steed
c. 1517 Wind -footed, and from that poor village reached
His jewelled halls. The nobles of Iran
Went thither for the chase, three hundred strong,
And each with thirty servants in his train
Of Turkman, Human, or of Persian strain.
§13
How Bahrdm went to the Chase and espoused the
Daughters of the Thane Barzin
The third day after this the Shah went forth
With escort, the equipment for the chase,
Ten camels all in housings of brocade
With stirrups silver and with dossers gold,
Ten camels with the Sh&h's pavilion,
And his brocaded seat. In front of these
Were seven elephants which bare the throne
Of turquoise hued like Nile ; its feet were all
Of gold and crystal ; 'twas the throne itself
Of Shah Bahrain Gur. Every swordsman there
Had thirty pages who had golden belts
And bridles, while a hundred camels served
To bear the minstrels wearing massive crowns.
The falconers had eight score hawks with them,
And ten score noble peregrines and falcons.
Among them there was one bird black of hue,
BAHRAM GUR 49
More precious in the Shah's eyes than the iv
With sable talons and with yellow beak,
Like gold a-gleam on lapis-lazuli.
They eulled it a tughral. Its eyes were like
u'ol.lets full of blood. The Khan of Chin
Had sent it with a throne and crown, with amber,
A golden torque inlaid with emeralds,
With two score armlets, and with thrice twelve earrin L
Three hundred camel-loads of rarities
Of Chin, and fifteen score of ruby signets.
Behind the falconers they led eight score
Of cheetahs tor that Lustre of the world —
The Shah — with jewelled torques and chains of gold.
Thus came the king of kings upon the plain,
And raised his crown o'er Jupiter. The sportsmen
Made for the river whither used the Shah
Auspiciously to fare each seventh year.
As they drew near they found the river full
Of water-fowl. He had the tabor beaten,
And the tughral flew off. The imperious bird
Was all impatience ; in its claws a crane
Was helpless quarry, and a pard had been
Its proper prey. At length it soared from sight, C. 1518
And bound a crane, then soared again and flew
Like shaft from bow, the falconer pursuing.
The Shah was vexed that it had flown away,
And followed by the tinkling of its bells.
!!<• came upon a spacious pleasure-ground,
With mansion rising in a coign thereof,
And thither went with certain of his men.
The rest remaining on the hunting-field.
On entering Bahrain Gur saw a garden
As 'twere a mountain skin . Upon the ground
Brocade was spread, and all the place was full
Of slaves and w« alt h. A pool was in the cent r«
Whereby an old man sat. Three girls like ivory
VOL. VII D
50 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSt
Sat by him wearing turquoise crowns. Their cheeks
liki- the spring, their statures tall, their eye-
brows
Arched, and their tresses lassos ; each girl held
A crystal goblet, and Bahram Gur saw them.
His eyes were dazzled at the spectacle
Just as his heart was gloomed for his tughral.
On seeing him that wealthy thane grew pale
As fenugreek with fear. A wise old man
Was he, Barzin by name, but ill-affected
Toward the Shah. As swift as wind he left
The hauz,1 approached the Shah, and kissed the
ground,
Then said : " 0 monarch of the sun-like face !
May heaven revolve according to thy will.
I do not dare to say to thee : ' Abide
With thy two hundred horsemen on my march.'
Still, if the Shah take pleasure in my garden,
The glory of Barzin hath reached the moon."
" To-day," the world's king answered, " the tughral
Escaped us. I am vexed about that fowler,
Which hunted birds as leopards hunt their quarry."
Barzin replied : " I saw a sable bird
Just now with golden bells and pitch-hued body,
Its beak and talons turmeric in hue ;
It came and settled on yon walnut-tree :
By thy good fortune it is come to hand."
The Shah said to a servant : " Go and look."
He went like wind and cried : " Glad ever be
The world-lord ! The tughral is on a bough ;
E'en now the falconer is taking it."
The hawk thus found, the old man said : " 0 Shah
Without a mate or equal on the earth !
Oh ! may thine entertainer prove auspicious,
And all the wearers of a crown thy slaves.
1 See Vol. i. p. 203 note.
BAH RAM GUR 51
Call for a wine-cup in our present joy, C. 1519
1. when thou art refreshed, ask what thou wilt."
The king of kings dismounted at the pool,
1 old Barzin grew glad. With that there came
Bahrain's chief minister and therewithal
captains of the host and treasui
Barzin brought forth a golden cup and first
Drank to the monarch of the world, then brought
And offered to the Shah a cup of crystal,
Who seeing took and drained the proffered draught
Below the inscription -line, whereat Barzin
In high delight had wine-jars set about
The place, and in his cups said to his daughters : —
" My clever chicks ! no chieftain of the host,
But Shah Bahrain hath visited this gard
So come, thou songstress ! let us have a song,
And thou, my moon -faced daughter ! bring thy
harp."
All three drew near the Shah, and on their heads
Were jewelled crowns. One danced, another played
Upon the harp, the third possessed a sweet
i soothing voice. While I hey made minstrelsy
king of kings in high contentment drained
Hi- goblet dry. He said thus to Barzin : —
" What girls are these who live with thee in joy ? "
Barzin thus answered him : " 0 Shah ! may none
Behold the age without thee. Km>\v that these
Are mine own daughters and my heart's delight.
One is a caroler, another harpeth.
third observeth measure in the dance.
1 need not aught, O Shah ! for I have money,
Domain, and pleasure-ground, and my three daughters
Are, as the Shall perceiveth. like glad spring.
O moon-face ! " said he to the songstress, " fear not,
^ing a song about the Sli
The Idols
p THE SHAHN^MA OF FIRDAUSt
Took heart to sing and play. The songstress sang
" 0 moon -faced king ! the moon in heaven
Alone is likr t.» ihee,
The royal throne thine only seat.
Thou with thy moon-like blee,
And teak-like stature art the pride
Of throne and crown. Oh ! rare
For those that see thy face at morn,
For those that scent thy hair !
Thy loins are tiger-like, thy limbs
Are mighty, thy crown's Grace
Is as the cloud-rack high, and like
Pomegranate-bloom thy face.
For rapture of thy love hearts laugh,
Like ocean is thine own ;
Like cloud thy hand. As thy fit prey
I see the lion alone.
C. 1520 Thou splittest with thy shaft a hair,
And by thine equity
Convertest water into milk.
When hostile armies see
Thy lasso and thy puissant arm
Their hearts and brains are rent
However mighty their array,
Howe'er on battle bent."
Bahrain Gur, having heard the ditty, drained
The massive crystal cup and thus addressed
Barzin : " 0 noble sir, experienced much
Is this world's heat and cold ! thou wilt not find
A better son-in-law than me who am
'Mid kings a hero and the king of men.
Bestow thy daughters on me — all the three —
BAH RAM GUK 53
And I will raise thy coronet to Saturn."
" 0 king ! " Barzin replied, " may wine and bearer
Find favour in thy sight . Who will dare say
That he hath such a Venus in his house ?
It now them wilt accept me as a slave
To serve before the throne of king of kings
Then will I pay iny service to thy crown,
Thy throne, thy Grace, thy fortune, and thy state ;
Moreover my three daughters are t hy handmaids
To stand before thee as thy slaves. The Shah
Approved of them as such or ever he
Saw these three Moons afar. As teaks are they
In stature and as ivory in hue,
Fit for the throne and to adorn the crown.
Now will I tell the monarch of the world
What fortune I possess for good and ill :
Of clothes and carpets, stuffs and draperies,
Good sooth have I stored up in mine abode
Two hundred camel-loads or more as well
As necklaces and bracelets, crowns and thrones,
All for my daughters' pleasure."
Hearing this
Bahram replied : " Leave what thou hast in store,
Where now it is, and seek mirth with the wine-cup."
The elder answered : " My three moon -like daughters
I give thee by the rites of Gaiumart
Ai.d ot llu-hiing. Dust are they 'math thy feet,
And all the three live but to do thy will."
The eldest daughter's name was Mali At rid.
The second's Faranak, and the cadette's
Was Shambalid. Approving them at sight
Shah preferred them 'mongst his lawful wives,
bade a noble of his escort bring
F-"ir golden litters.1 and. when all three Idols
Were set then -in. they were encircled there
1 The fourth was for himself and needful. See below.
54 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
By forty Ruman slaves — their devotees—
Who called down praises on them as they went.
C. 1521 While they departed to their golden home
The glorious Shah caroused. A servant hung
His whip above the court -gate, for the escort,
Save by the token of the whip, ne'er knew
Where Shah and nobles were. \Vlu-n any one
Beheld the handle and its lengthy thong
He used to run thereto and do obeisance.
Bahrain drank on until he was bemused,
Then glorious took his seat within a litter,
And went back to his women's golden house —
The house that was perfumed with ambergris.
On his return he tarried for a week,
And much he feasted, lavished, and held converse.
The eighth day he went hunting with Ruzbih,
And with a thousand cavaliers. He saw
That all the plain was full of onager,
Drew from its case his royal bow, and strung it,
Invoking God who giveth victory.
'Twas springtide and the onager were pairing.
From all the world they met confronting there,
And rent each other's hides, the face of earth
Was reddened with their blood. Bahrain abode
While two bucks fought together furiously,
Then when the valiant buck that gained the day
Was covering a doe he laughed to see
The onagers, took hold upon his bow-string,
Shot, piercing the buck's flank so that the arrow
Went home up to its plumes, and skewered buck
And doe together, thrilling all his escort.
All who beheld that shot acclaimed the Shah : —
" Oh ! be the evil eye far from thy Grace,
And may thy whole life be a festival.
Such might as thine the age ne'er saw till now ;
At once Shah, warrior, and king art thou."
BAHRAM OUR 55
§14
How Bahrain slew Lions, went to the House of a Jewetter,
and married his Daughter
The Shah, on urging thence his steed Shabrang,
Came on a forest and beheld before it
Two savage lions, strung and drew his bow.
The arrow, striking on the lion's breast,
Was buried to the plumes. Forthwith Bahrain
Turned to the lioness and, shooting, pinned
Her breast and loins together, but exclaimed : —
" The shaft was featherless, the point was blunt . C. 1522
If point there were."
The escort praised him, saying :—
0 famous king of earth ! none ever saw,
Or will see, on the throne of king of kings
A Shah like thee, who with unfeathered arrows
O'erthrowest lions, and with plumed uprootest
A mount of flint."
The monarch with his meiny
Bode on along the meadow-land and saw
A forest full of sheep, their herds in flight
For fear of harm. The chief herd, ne'er at ease
For terror of wild beasts, perceived Bahrain,
Who said to him : " What man is driving sheep
To this unlikely spot ? "
The head man answered : —
< ireat sir ! none cometh to this pasturage
Except myself. They are a jeweller's :
1 drove them from the mountains yesterday.
The owner is a wealthy man not troubled
By fear of loss.1 He owneth gems by ass-loads,
Gold, silver, t rinUet ry. He hath withal
One only daughter, skilful on the harp.
tresses cluster on her head in curls.
1 Reading with P.
$6 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSt
He will take wine from her hand only. None
Hath seen an old man like him. How could he
Have kept his property but by the justice
Of Shah Bahram ? The great king of the world
Is not concerned for gold, and his archmages
Are not unjust ; but say who slew these beasts,
For may the Ruler of the world uphold him ? "
Bahram replied : " This pair of lions fell
Beneath the arrows of a valiant man,
Who, having slain these gallant beasts, departed
With seven other gallant cavaliers.
Where is the jeweller's mansion ? Point the way,
And hide it not from us."
The chief hind said : —
" Proceed and thou wilt reach a brand-new seat.
The jeweller thence fareth to the city,
To Shah Bahram 's own palace, but, what time
The sun doth don its Sable Silk, returneth
To banquet. Revelling and sound of lyre
Will reach thine ears if thou wilt bide a while."
Bahram, on hearing this, called for his steed,
And for apparel suited to a king,
Then parted from his minister and escort.
Good sooth ! but he was full of eagerness !
Ruzbih said to the chiefs : " So now the Shah
Is going to the village, there to knock
Upon the portal of the jeweller !
C. 1523 And, mark my words ! will ask of him his daughter,
And crown her doubtless with a crown of gold,
Will take her to his ladies' golden house,
And send that other three back to Barzln ! l
He never hath enough of chambering ;
His consort flitteth ere the night is over !
He hath above a hundred ladies' bowers !
'Tis ill to have a king of kings like this.
1 See previous section.
BAHRAM GUR 57
Just now a eunuch reckoned up nine hundred
And thirty damsels wearing jewelled crowns
Within the palace, all provided for !
The Shah demandeth tribute from all lands,
And Ruin will be exhausted in a year.
Alack ! for shoulders, breast, and height like his,
And face that brightened all the company !
None will behold his like in strength and stature,
Who pinneth with one shaft two onagers ;
But dalliance with women marreth him,
He soon will be as feeble as a ghost !
His eyes will darken and his looks grow wan,
His body slacken and his cheeks turn blue.
To sniff at women maketh hoary heads,
And hoary heads have naught to hope on earth.
As polo-playing maketh stoop the upright,
So womanizing causeth every ill.
Once in a month is intercourse enough,
While more is waste of blood. A wise youth too
Should husband vigour for his children's sake.
In this excess there is excess of loss,
And slackness is afflictive to a man."
They went back to the palace, talking still,
And one remarked : " The Sun hath lost his way."
Bahram Gur, with one slave to mind his horse,
Fared through the gloom of night and, when he neared
The jeweller's abode, heard sounds of harping,
Whereto he urged Gulgun, his steed, forthwith
Toward the merchant's house. He knocked and asked
Admittance, all the while invoking Him
Who made the sun. A kindly handmaid said : —
>s there? Why knock thus at this time of
hi ( "
Bahram replied : " This morning as the Shah
Was coming in )in th<- hunt inj4-^ruund my horse
Went lame, and I \< gO< 1< it behind.
58 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSt
Here in this thoroughfare the folk will steal
A steed like this and my gold harness too,
So I need help."
The handmaid went and told
Her lord : " A man requesteth shelter, saying :
* My steed with its gold harness will be stolen,
And I shall go away undone.' '
He answered : —
' Then ope the door. Hast never seen a guest
Come here before ? "
C. 1524 The maid made haste to open,
And said : " Come in, my son ! "
The Shah on entering,
And seeing such a place and such attendance,
Said to himself : " O just and only God !
Thou art Thy servant's Guide to what is good.
Ne'er may I be but just in conduct, never
Be covetise and arrogance my creed,
Let every act and deed of mine be just,
And let my subjects' hearts rejoice in me :
Then, if my knowledge and my justice wax,
My memory will shine when I am dead.
May all my subjects, like this jeweller,
Enjoy the sound of harp and revelry."
On entering the lofty hall he saw
The jeweller's famed daughter from the door.
The thane, on seeing him, arose and came
With bows profound, and said : " Good ev'n to thee.
May all thy foemen's hearts be rooted out."
The host spread out a mat and laid thereon
A cushion, gazing at his guest with joy.
One brought a sumptuous board with viands hot
And cold thereon. One came — a faithful liege —
And was instructed to secure the steed.
Elsewhere they lodged and fed Bahrain Gur's servant.
They set a low seat for the host himself,
BAHRAM GL'R 59
Who took his place close to his guest the Shah,
And then began to offer his excuse,
Thus saying to Bahram : " Brave paladin !
Since thou art entertained within my house
Conform thyself to my rough usages.
When we have eaten we must drink and then
Rest sweetly. 'Tis dark night, the wine is royal ;
When thou hast drunk thy quantum thou shalt sleep,
And, when thou wakest at the break of day,
Must haste back to the service of the Shah."
Bahram replied : " Night dark when one alight eth
On cheery host like thee ! We must not prove
Ingrate to God ; the hearts of thankless men
Are full of fear."
The handmaid, who was all
Astonied at the aspect of the guest,
Brought water, bowl, and napkin . Hands were washed.
Then came the wine-cup's turn, and with the wine
Came mirth, contentment, and tranquillity.
The handmaid brought a flagon and strong drink,
Red wine, a cup, and flowers of fenugreek.
The thane first reached out for the cup and drank,
Then washed it out with musk and with rose-water,
And gave the cup that cheereth to Bahram.
" What," said he, " is my boon -companion's name ?
Now will I make a covenant with thee,
And 1 will take Bahram, the Shah, as surety."
Tin- king laughed heartily thereat and said : — C. 1525
" Gushasp, the cavalier, am I, and hit IK r
Came I attracted by the sound of harp,
And not to drink or while away t IK- time."
is girl of mine," his host replied, " exalt ot h
My head to heaven and is at onee my harper,
And my cup-bearer, and withal she singoth,
And dissipateth care. My Heart's Delight
Is named Arzu — my heart's delight and server."
60 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
He said to that tall Cypress : " Bring thy harp,
Come in thy loveliness before Gushasp."
The harpist, tall as a pomegranate-tree,
Moved stately to tin- king of kings and said : —
" O chosen cavalier who hast in all
The semblance of a long ! know that this house
Of feasting is thine own, my sire thy host
And treasurer. May thy dark nights be joyous,
And be thy head exalted o'er the rain-clouds."
He said to her : "Sit down, take up thy harp,
And let us have a song immediately.
To-night old Mahiyar shall be a youth,
And pledge his soul as hostage for his guest."
The harpist clasped her harp and first she played
The Magians' chant, and as the silken chords
Rang out an odour as of jasmine filled
The room. She sang to Mahiyar, her sire,
And thou hadst said : " How plaintive is her harp !
" Thou art as a cypress
That lippeth a stream,
And white locks encircle
Thy cheeks' rosy gleam.
Thy tongue is warm-spoken,
Thy heart loveth peace,
Oh ! ne'er may thy foenien
Of ill have surcease.
Thy soul's food be wisdom.
Thy bent is as great
As Faridun's. On thee
As handmaid I wait.
Arzu am I titled,
I joy in our guest,
Like monarch whose troops are
With victory blest."
BAHRAM Gl'K 6 1
This ditty done, toward the guest she turned,
Turned toward him with a song and plaintive chords :—
" Sincere and brave, high-starred and king-like one !
They that ne'er saw Bahrain, the cavalier,
The well approved, to every bosom dear,
Should look upon thy face, and all is done.
His only semblance in the host thou art,
Tall as a cypress with a reed-like waist,
A cypress with a pheasant's carriage graced,
An elephant in bulk with lion's heart.
Two miles in fight thou flingest forth thy spear,
Thy cheeks as though pomegranate-blossoms shim-
(Who was it washed, say'st thou, those blooms in
wine ?)
And as a camel's thighs thine arms appear.
Thou tramplest Mount Bistun. Heaven toiled to
mould c- '526
A man like thee. None see I to compete
In strife with thee. As dust beneath thy feet
Oh ! may Arzu's form be while life shall hold."
The girl's proficiency with song and harp,
Her looks, her stature, and accomplishments,
So wrought the world-lord that thou wouldst ha
said : —
His heart hath grown a magazine of woes,"
And at the time when Mahiyar grew drunk
Before him he addressed his host, thus saying : —
" Give me thy daughter as my lawful wife
It t IK.U wouldst be commended for just dealing."
" Wilt thou accept," said Mahiyar to her,
* The presents of this limi -hearted man ?
See if he pleaseth thee, and it t is well
For thee to go with him."
Arzu replied : —
62 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
" Good, noble father ! 1 if thou wouldst bestow me
On any then my partner is Gushasp,
Thr cavah'er. One that doth look upon
A man like this will bid Bahrain * Avaunt ! '
His daughter's words misliked him and he said
Thus to Bahrain : " O horseman of the fray !
Regard her carefully from head to foot,
Her industry, her knowledge, and discretion ;
See if she be approved of thee at heart ;
Report of her is better than assumption.
She is at once accomplished and no beggar ;
I do not specify exact amounts,
But shouldst thou count the gems of Mahiyar
They would exceed those in the royal coffers.
Be not precipitate, take rest to-night,
And, if needs must, another cup of wine,
For great men make no compacts in their cups
Especially about their lady-loves.
Wait therefore till the sun shall rise on high,
And till the nobles' heads have roused from
sleep,
Then will we call far-seeing elders in —
Disinterested men and scholarly.
At night 'tis out of order and ignoreth
The precedents of Faridiin, the Shah.
Ill-omened 'tis to marry in one's cups
Or handsel any business."
Said Bahrain : —
" Absurd ! 'Tis ill to draw, or go by, omens.
This harpist fdeaseth me to-night, so strive
To deem the matter an auspicious one."
The sire said to his daughter : " 0 Arzu !
Dost thou approve him as to looks and manners ? "
She said : " Yea, I approved of him when I
Far off beheld him with such head and eyes.
1 Reading with P.
BAHRAM GUR 63
Complete the work and leave the rest to God :
The sky is not at feud with Mahiyar."
J 1. T father answered : " Thou art now his wife.
Know this that thou art under coverture."
He gave her to Bahrain Gur who espoused her ; C. 1527
By dawn tin* matter had been consummate.
Shah's attendant hung the royal whip
Upon the door of Mahiyar, Arzu
Went to her chamber while on every side
Folk still were sleeping. Mahiyar departed
To make all ready for the cavalier,
( M 1s* hasp, and told a servant : " Shut the doors,
And send off some one to the flock in haste.
v must not serve the board without a lamb,
And one well fattened too. Wait on Gushasp,
And. when he waketh, bring him ice and sherbet.1
Take too a bowl of camphor and rose-water
To scent his chamber. As for me, my cups
Have left me just as I was yesterday ;
Old jewellers shirk not their wine."
He spake,
And, drawing up his cloak about his head,
Wooed rest and sleep.
When bright Sol showed its crown.
And earth became like shining ivory,
Troops armed with shields and double-headed darts
Went to seek traces of the royal whip.
The escort gathered round the door as though
The Shah's own court, and all that recognised
Tin- whip came forward and saluted it.
Boeing that great gathering,
throng of swordsmen and of javelin -men.
\\Vnt, roused his sleeping lord, and sobered him,
Th us saying to him : " Rise, bestir thyself ;
I is no time to sleep or place to sit,
> Fakk*'. See Vol. i. p. 43 note.
64 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Because the world's king is thy guest within
This sorry house of thine ! "
The jeweller's heart
Throbbed wildly at the words. He cried : " What
say'st thou ?
How tracest thou the footsteps of the king ? "
Then fully realising what was said
He sprang up from the bed-clothes with a shout,
Enraged against the porter, " These," he cried,
" Are not the words of wisdom and of age."
" Experienced man ! " the slave said, " who on earth
Made thee the monarch of f ran ? So vast
A host is at thy gate that, wouldst thou pass,
There is scant room, and every Jack of them,
On coming up, saluteth our old curtain ! l
At dawn, before the sun began to shine,
The cavalier's attendant came and hung
A whip all gold and jewels o'er our entry,
Where we pass through it, and round that long whip
C. 1528 There is a world of folk from hill and dale.
So now be up and doing, be not slack,
And let not wine affect thee."
Hearing this,
The shrewd old man was troubled : " Why did I
Get drunk last night before the king of kings,
And let my daughter share the wine with us ? "
Then going to the chamber of Arzu
He said : " My gracious Moon ! it was Bahrain,
The king of kings, that last night visited
The jeweller ! On coming from the chase
He hither turned his rein. Now up and don
Brocade of Rum and set upon thy head
Thy last night's crown. Make him an offering
Of jewels worthy of a king — three rubies
Of royal worth — and, when thou shalt behold
1 The felt curtain at the door-way. Cf. p. 69.
BARRAU GUR 65
1 1 - Min-like face, enfold thine arms before him,
Ivep thine eyes fixed on him and think of him
As thine own soul and body. Answer meekly
When he shall question thee, and let thy words
I' !i ; and discreet. I shall not come
I'M less he calleth me and giveth me
A place among his followers. I sat
V taMe with him like his peer ! Oh ! would
Tli at I had no bones in me ! Furthermore
I cottoned with the Shah when in my cups !
Wine maketh old and young to misdemean."
Just then a slave came hurrying and said : —
' The Shah, that ardent spirit, is awake."
Nt >w when the Shah woke safe and sound, he went
To bathe him in the garden, went to pray
Before the sun, confiding all to God.
Returning thence to the reception-room
11'' bade a server bring a cup of wine,
II • ard that his retinue had come, dismissed it,
And called Arzu on whom his heart was set.1
Arzii appeared with wine and offerings —
A handmaid with her necklace and her earrings —
And with a lowly reverence kissed the ground.
-hah -miled on her greatly pleased and said :—
" Whence such behaviour — first to make me drunk,
Then run a way ? Thy song and harp suffice
For me, a woman's presents are for others.
Come sing to me thy ditties of the chase,
: head-blows, and royal combatings."
Anon he said : " Where is the jeweller,
For we got drunk together yesternight ? "
daughter, when she heard this, called her father,
Mazed at t ho Sh&h's good-nature. Came her siro ( 15*9
With folded arms before the sun-like
neana " Desire," and there ia a double use of tho word in tho
original : " Because ho bad a desire for I)<
VOL. VII. E
66 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
Of kings, and said : " 0 Shah ! O chief I 0 wise !
O great ! O mighty one ! 0 warrior !
0 archimage ! may this world ever be
At thy dispose and everywhere thy name
Associate with the crown. The man that quaffeth
The draught of foolishness should hold his tongue.
My fault was due to ignorance. Methinketh
That thou must deem me mad. Vouchsafe to pardon
My fault and make my face and faring bright.
1 ^tand — a foolish slave — before thy door ;
The king of kings will deem me less than man."
Bahrain replied : " The wise man never taketh
The drunkard seriously ; one should not eye
Or savour wine if it make sad the face.
I saw thee not ill-tempered in thy cups.
Now listen to the singing of Arzu,
And proffer as thine own apology
The tulips and the jasmine of her song.
Let her descant what while we quaff, not counting
The ill of days not come."
He kissed the ground,
Did Mahiyar, then brought and spread the board,
And, good man that he was, he fetched withal
The nobles that were stationed at the gate ;
Howbeit Arzu went off to her own bower,
Her visage puckered at- those stranger-guests,
And stayed till heaven grew sombre, and the stars
Came out around the moon. The eating done,
Arzu was called and set upon a scat
Of golden work. The Shah bade her to take
Her harp and sing to him the song that he
Had asked of her already. Thus she sang : —
" 0 monarch undaunted ! the lion in shame
Will slink from the wood at the bruit of thy name.
Shah, victor, host-breaker art thou. In thy mien
BAHRAM GUR 67
The tints of the tulip on jasmine are seen.
In stature no ruler on earth is tny peer,
In looks thou transcendest the moon in her sphere.
A host on the war-stead, beholding in fight
Thy helmet, will rive, heart and brain, with affright,
Ami longer discern not the depth from the height."
Wlu-n they were Mil hi- with wine and, eating done,
Were quaffing draught on draught, Riizbih appeared
•re the Shah. They lodged him in the village.
Ku/.bih had brought a litter and withal
Two score of eunuchs, all moon-face and charming.
Those Rumans' faces seemed brocade of Rum,
And freshened all the country round. Arzu,
A crown of jewels set upon her head,
Mird the bower of Shah Bahrain Gur sped.
§15
How Bahrain went to the Chase and passed the Niyht
'he House of Farshidicard
The king of kii.i:-. attended by Ruzbih, 1530
\\Vnt from the chief's house with a gladsome heart .
} 1 ' • passed the night and went at dawn to hunt .
Troops fared o'er all the roads and trackless wast
And thus abode a month. They pitched the tent -
And camp-enclosure, and swept all the field
Of game. None slumbered there, it was all wine,
Game, flesh, and harp, and lyre. They kindled fires
About the plain and burned wood green and dry.
• - came a swarm of dealers from the city,
Who tarried at the camp for trafficking :
The crowd made bright the waste. At quarter price
Tln-y bought one onager or ten ga/.- ll< ^.
And whosoever was in want of meat,
For cooking for his guests or for his children,
68 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
Might carry home ground-game and water-fowl
By ass-loads.
When a month had passed Bahrain
Grew eager for his wives' society,
ltd his people from the hunting-ground.
Folk could not see the way, the cavaliers
Rui-rd Mirh a duM ! hut swift as dust they sped
Till day's cheeks turned to lapis-lazuli.
The Shah observed a town in front of him
With groups of houses, roadways, and bazars,
And ordered that his escort with the baggage
Should push on, leaving not a soul behind.
He asked : " Where is the chief man of the place ? "
And then made thither straightway. He beheld
A shattered entry broad and deep. The owner
Came and saluted him. The Shah inquired :—
" Whose ruin is this and wherefore in such plight
Amidst the town ? "
The master said : " 'Tis mine,
And ill luck is my guide. I have not here
Kine, raiment, victuals, manhood, understanding,
No feet, no wings. Me thou hast seen, now view
My house — one fitter for a curse than blessing."
The aspiring Shah alighted, scanned the house,
And hands and feet both failed him, for the place
Was all sheep's droppings though both great and
vaulted !
C. 1531 " Bring me," he said, " thou hospitable man !
Somewhat whereon to sit."
The other answered : —
" Why mock thy host so wantonly, 0 marchlord !
Had I some draperies my guest would praise me,
But I have none, no clothing, food, or carpets.
Pray lodge thee somewhere else ; here all is poor."
The Shah said : " Fetch a cushion then that I
May sit awhile."
" The place is ill," he answered.
BAHRAM GVR 69
" Good sooth ! wouldst thou have bird's milk ? "
Said Bahrain : —
" Bring fresh milk and new bread if thou canst get it."
" Imagine," said the other, " that thou hast
Partaken and gone off with ' Fare thee well.'
1 >hould not be so lifeless had I bread,
Though life were better far than bread to me."
Bahram said : " If thou hast no sheep how come
These droppings here ? "
" 'Tis night," the other answered.
My head is all a muddle with thy talk.
Select some mansion with a curtained entrance ;
"f it will commend thy choice.
Why shouldst thou be with an unfortunate,
Who maketh leaves his pillow for the night ?
Thou hast a golden sword and stirrups, thou
Shouldst sojourn not where there is fear of thieves,
For thieves and lions haunt old hulks like this."
The Shah said : " If a thief should rob me now
Thou wouldst not be responsible, but give me
A lodging for the night, 'tis all I need."
' Then need it not," the owner made reply ;
ue lodgeth in my house."
" O wise old man !
Why art thou," said the Shah, " so short with me ?
Still thou wilt give me, I presume, cold water,
0 noble one ! "
" Didst thou not see," rejoined
Tin- householder, " more than two bow-shots long l
,)0ol ? There drink and take whatever thou wilt .
Why seek for aught in this impoverished house ?
Good sooth ! hast never seen a poor man barred
From working by decrepitude ? "
Bahram
Rejoined : " Thou art not one of the first water,
1 Or "hence." So M"hl.
70 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Chii-f thouirh thou be ; 60 strive not with a soldier.
t i- thy name? "
He answered : " Farshidward,
A man without land, raiment, sleep, and food."
Bahrain asked : " Why endeavour not for provand
And comfort ? "
Said the master of the house : —
' lit* that bestoweth all may end my days.
1532 If only I can see my desolation
R< IH \rd of thce I will make prayer to Him.
Why i-am'st thou to an empty house that never
Saw good condition and a high estate ? "
Win -n he had spoken thus he wept so sorely
That Shah Bahrain fled from his cries. He laughed
At that old man and took the road again,
While all his escort followed in his train.
§ 16
How a Bramble-grubber revealed the Case of Farshidward, and
how Bahrdm bestowed that Householder's Wealth upon the
Poor
Bahram, on quitting that famed township, came
Upon a bramble-brake. A man, who held
A mattock in his hand, was grubbing there.
The monarch left his retinue, drew near him,
And said : " O enemy of brambles ! whom
Know'st thou of most account hi yonder town ? "
He answered : " Farshidward — a man of greed
That doth not suffer him to sleep or eat.
He hath, may be, a hundred thousand sheep,
More camels, steeds, and asses. Earth is full
Of his amassed dinars, but would that he
Had neither skin nor marrow to his body !
BAHRAM GfjR 71
A famished paunch and nakedness are his ;
He hath no child, no kin, no friends, no goods.
A captive hi the hands of Greed and Need
His person is all misery and wasted
Through eating not, but if he were to sell
For gold his tilth 'twould purchase gems enough
To fill a house ! His shepherds swill down flesh
With milk, but he himself hath millet-bread
Without e'en cheese ! He never saw two coats
At once ; he is a tyrant to himself."
The Shah said to the grubber : " Thou dost know
The number of his sheep, but knowest thou
Where those flocks are and likewise where his steeds
And camels are at large ? ' '
The grubber said : —
" O thou ! it is not far from here to where
1 1 camels and his sheep are, but my heart
Is troubled at the. ill that he may do me."
Bahrain Gur gave the grubber some dinars,
And said : " This day shall gentle thy condition."
He bade one of his escort come to him,
A man that knew his way about, by name
Bihruz, a horseman brave and popular,
And sent with him a hundred ca'valiers,
Selected men well suited to the work.
He chose withal a scribe, an honest man
And skilled accountant. " Go," he told the grubber, C. 1533
' Thou didst grub brambles, now reap gold. One
hundredtb
Of all that wealth is thine. Show to these men
The way."
The grubber's name was Dilafruz,
A man of stately mien and stalwart form.
Bahrain bestowed on him a noble steed,
And said : " Thou must companion with the wind."
He was the Light <>t hearts but he became
72 THE SHAHNAMA OF FJRDAUSI
The Lustre of the world l and carried out
isk triumphantly. He led the troop
O'er hill and plain past countless flocks of sheep.
Upon the mountains were ten caravans
Of camels, each with its own caravaneer.
The scribe wrote down of draught and of milch cattle
Twelve thousand, and the number of the camels
And steeds as twice ten thousand. All the waste
Was dinted with their hoofs. Beside the stream
Thrre were three hundred thousand camel -loads
Of potted butter and curds fresh and dried.2
Height, waste, and level were one mighty cache,
But none had heard thereof. Bihruz, the son
Of Hur, reported to the king of kings,
Bahrain Gur, praising first almighty God,
The All-victorious and All-nourisher,
And next the king of kings who had released
Men's hands from toil, and then proceeded thus : —
" O monarch of the world ! thou art the joy
Of all folk great and small because thy justice
Surpasseth bounds. Our treasury hath suffered
Through silence as to this man's wealth. 'Tis well
That all things in the world should have their
bounds,
Well that the Shah be boundlessly rejoiced.
A wretch there is named Farshidward, unknown
1 1 1 feast and fight to great and small alike
Throughout the world, not fearing God or Shah,
And thankless hi respect of what he hath.
While thus he streweth o'er the world his wealth
He is a lack-all, wretched, secretive,
Who is as unjust as the Shah is just.
Blame not my words and counsel. Let this wealth
Inaugurate a treasury ; 'twill need
1 He was, i.e. his name was, Dilafruz, but he became Gftiafruz.
* For winter use.
BAHRAM GVR 73
Three years to order it. I have invoked
To mine assistance certain other scribes,
And settled them upon this fertile mount,
But, though the writers' backs are bent, not yet
Is manifest the sum of this man's treasure ;
Moreover he possesseth, so folk say,
Still greater buried hoards of gold and jewels.
II re in the mountain am I with both eyes
Upon the road to know the Shah's commands.
My salutation to him. May he live C. 1534
What while his name is all in all to all." *
He sent a cameleer post haste to bear
letter to the Shah. Whenas Bahrain Gin-
Had read it he was troubled in his heart,
Grew downcast, wept, and bent his warrior-brows.
He called for Ruman pens and silk of Chin,
And bade a scribe approach. He first gave thanks
To God almighty, the omniscient Guide,
'* The Lord of knowledge and of Grace, the Lord
liadem and kingship," then wrote thus : —
" I should by rights attach this man. He hath not
Amassed these hoards by thievery and bloodshed,
Hath not incited others to do wrong,
But he hath been ungrateful and not had
The fear of God within him, hath kept ward
O'er all this treasure to the detriment,
By such amassing, both of heart and soul.
Wolf is as good as sheep upon yon plain
Since neither \ ieldeth profit or return.
A buried gem is nothing but a stone,
Affording no one either food or raiment.
We shall not found a treasury on his toils,
< >r tix oral heart upon this Wayside Inn.
Evanished from the world are Faridun.
fraj withal, Tur, and, amidst the mighty.
1 Lit. is (both) wnrp an.l uoof."
74 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Sam, Shah Kaus, and Kai Kubad, besides
The other potentates whose names we cherish,
And mine own sire who filled my heart with pain
As being neither just nor generous.
None of these great men is in evidence ;
ll< rein tin-re is no striving with the Lord.
Collect this treasure and distribute it,
But touch not thou one hair. To every one
That hideth his necessities and looketh
Long vainly for remission from his ills ;
To old men past their work and despicable
In rich men's eyes ; to those that have spent all,
And now in trouble breathe forth chilling sighs ;
To those that have renown but not dinars ;
To traders reft of friends ; to little ones
Whom thou beholdest orphans, their sires dead,
And they themselves in want of gold and silver ;
To women that have neither spouse nor raiment,
That know no handicraft and no employment,
Give all these treasures and irradiate
The lives of those poor souls. This done, neglect not
The hidden treasures, but bestow the hoards
Of Farshidward upon the mendicants
1535 For their relief. Dinars and gems are dust
To him since he must needs go bury them.
May turning heaven be thy companion,
All justice mayst thou be and self-restraint."
They set the Shah's seal on the document,
And thereupon the courier turned and went.
§ 17
How Bahrain went to the Chase and slew. Lions
Bahram bade slaves set up the imperial throne
Within the pleasance, then in spring-tide beauty.
BAHRAM Gi'K. 75
They brought the turquoise throne at his command,
And set it 'neath a blossom-shedding tree,
They brought forth wine and cups, and minstrels went
Toward the pleasance with the chiefs. The king
1 to his counsellors : " This is the time
Of jollity for men. We all must couch ;
h trendeth under foot the rolls of fame,
The hall and palace. We shall have enough
Of our own company within the eluiniel.
both of mien and stature though we be.
The king and beggar cany when they die
Naught but their good and ill away with them.
What toil soe'er men bear is only loss,
For, when they perish, that will perish too.
That praise of us remaineth is enough,
For crown and girdle are another's share.
Thou needest innocence and uprightness
That thine enjoyments prove not scath to thee.
My years exceed already eight and thirty,
And many a day hath fleeted in delight,
But, after two score years, grief for the day
Of death is instant with us. If one hair
Turn white upon our heads we must forgo
All hope of joy ; when musk becometh camphor
IV ruined : camphor suiteth not the crown.
T\\o years more will I spend in least and sport,
Then, when my strength is somewhat broken, go
Before God's presence, don the woollen rol>
And be not thankless for His mercies to me.
For I have passed my days in joy and had
My share of royal crown. Now for the rose,
The apple, the pomegranate, and the quin
Let not the golden goblet fail of win<
1 Tho Emperor Babar (A.D. 1483-1530) in his diary made similar
good resolutions, which he did not keep : " As I intend, when forty
yean old, to abstain from wine ; and as I now want somewhat less than
one year of beim -i-int most copiously." Kill, i v. 210.
76 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
But when I see the apples amber-cheeked,
The heavens dappled like a leopard's back,
The fragrant camomile producing seed,
And wine as ruddy as the reveller,
When air is pleasant, neither hot nor cold,
Earth fresh and water blue, what time we don
Our autumn furs, I must to Jaz to hunt,
C. 1536 And hold a hunting-bout upon that plain
To make me a memorial in the world.
Meanwhile the onager will grow plump-necked,
And compass lion's heart and tiger's strength.
We must take dogs and cheetahs, hawks and falcons,1
For that far faring since it is the spot
For onager and archery, and there
No moment will wre rest from chevying.
The plain that I have set mine eyes upon
Is lower Jaz. There tamarisks are tall
As spear-shafts, there too we shall find the lion,
And have a hunting if we bide our time."
He waited till the clouds of Shahrivar
Arose, then all the world was filled with troops.
From every clime an army keen for strife
Set face toward the monarch of Iran,
Who chose among them chiefs of note as hunters,
And carried with him to the chase a force
Of thirty thousand mounted Scimitars.
They took with them pavilions, tent-enclosures,
Tents, beasts, and shielings, while the underlings
Went on before Bahram Gur to dig wells,
To furnish them withal with wheel and bucket,
And run the water into troughs. The Shah
Came later with his meiny to the chase.
He saw the plain well stocked with onager,
The woods alive with lions, and thus said : —
1 Two sorts of falcons are mentioned in the text — the chaikh and
the shahin (falco sacer and falco peregrinator ?).
BAHRAM G$R 77
'" \\'ine is our quarry to-night, for on the sand
Are many lion-tracks, and we must have
A lion-hunt to-morrow. Rest ye then
In health of body and in merry pin.
And let us drink till daybreak, till the sun —
Tin- lustre of the world — is bright again.
Our seimitars shall fell the lions fiiM .
Shall tell those valiant dragons. When the woods
Are cleared of lions then the onager
Shall yield himself a servant to my shaft-.
He stayed that night and, when the morning dawned,
Approached the forest with his men. whereat
A lion, lusty-grown with battening
On onagers, rushed forth, and brave Bahrain
Said to his friends : " Though I have bow and arrows,
And mastery therewith. I will assail
Ymi lion with the scimitar that none
May call me coward."
Donning a shrunk vest
( n wool he mounted on his battle-steed.
when that dragon of a lion saw him
It reared, brought down its claws, and sought to strike
Tin- charger on the head.1 The warrior heeled
(I - Mrrd ai.d witli his trenchant scimitar,
What \\ hile the lioness made off apace,
Struck at the lion's head and clave the beast c. 1537
iJ'.wn to its middle, filling lions' hearts
With tear ; yet gallantly another one
ue roaring, one whose mate was suckling cubs.
H smote that lion's neck and parted head
in trunk. One said to him : * O sun-faced Shah !
Hast thou not any mercy on thyself ?
The wood is full of lions and their young —
1 Blanford describes a lioness attacking his horse much in this way,
and remark* that Persian sport i « a generally represent the lion
M leaping, not rearing. EP, ii. 32.
78 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Cubs that are sucklings. Let the lions be,
For in the autumn -time they breed. This forest
Is three leagues deep, and if thou wert to spend
A year in taking lions wouldst not clear it ;
So why impose such labour on thyself ?
The Shah, when first he sat upon the throne,
Fought lions only as the compact was.1
Now thou art Shah, the world is thine, so why
Fight with them still ? Thou cam'st for onager."
" Old sage," the Shah said, " let to-morrow dawn,
And heigh for onager and shaft and me !
But cavaliers and nobles now alive
Can rival me in archery, so when
We give its due to manhood we must take
Account of iron mace and scimitar."
The archmage said : " Hadst thou ten horsemen
with thee,
And like thee in the fight, then Rum and Chin
Would have no crown and throne, and men of wisdom
Would ship their goods off. Be the evil eye
Far from thy Grace, and be it thine to feast
Among the roses."
Then with archimages,
And captains of the host, the Shah departed
Toward his tent-enclosure from the wood
What while the troops acclaimed him, saying thus : —
" Ne'er may the crown and signet -ring lack thee."
That paladin then entered his pavilion,
His escort quitting him, and washed his hands
Of sweat. He had with him a trusty steward,
Who draped a fresh tent for him. There they set
Musk, camphor, and rose water, and spread musk
Withal upon the sleeping-place. Each tent
Had golden tables laid with services
Of ware of Chin where lamb and other meats
1 See Vol. vi. p. 405 seq.
BAHRAM Gl'R 79
Were served 1>\ the chief server. Shah Bahrain Gur,
The eating done, called for a mighty cup
Of crystal, which a fairy -faced cup- bearer
Brought and consigned it to the just king's hands,
Who said : " Ardshir, the great king, he whose fortune
Made old folk young, was founder of our house,
And we are underlings if we be worthy
of that title. Both in fight and feast
At counsel and at board, give none but him
Tin- title of world's lord. What time Sikandar c. 1538
Came to Iran from Rum and wrecked the laid.
Si rice he was both ungenerous and harsh,
And slew kings six and thirty, monarchs' lips
An- full of curses, and earth's surface full
Of vengeance, on him.* Faridun they praise,
lie is cursed by stirrers up of strife.
Throughout the world may only good proceed
in me to small and great. Bring me a herald,"
He added, " one of goodly voice and leading,
Let him go round the host and thus proclaim
y and waste alike : ' Whoe'er shall lay
Within the region of Bar^uh and Jaz 2
Unlawful hands on augh^ from jewels, gold,
Dinars, and furs to mean and worthless chaff,
Him \\i\\ I horse face tail-wards and will have
Two of the soldiery to lead him hence.
•• et shall be made fast beneath his steed,
i to the temple of Azargashasp
Will I dispatch him there to supplicate
All -holy God and \\or-hip in the dust
i C6, 1 \\ill bestow his goods
On ihnvc \\hom he hath robbed and wronged withal.
If any horse shall injure growing crops,
< >r harm fruit -hearing trees, the horse's own<
he Persian pre-M n!i in i' ulan view of SikAndar. (/ 15.
r.
8o THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
Be he a noble or of no account,
Shall not escape a year's imprisonment.
My work is but to carry from the desert
My portion, then go home again rejoicing.' '
The more part of the traffickers of Jaz,
And of Barkuh, went out upon the plain,
And with their various packs produced a scene
About the host like a bazar in Chin.
§ 18
How Bahrdm went to hunt the Onager, showed his Skill before
the Princes, and returned to Baghdad and Istakhr
Whenas the sun next day displayed its crown
The world-lord went to hunt the onager ;
The soldiers strung their bows, the Shah himself
Rode in the rear. He said : " If one should take
His bow to shoot at any beast the arrow
Should strike the buttocks and come through the
breast."
A paladin replied : " 0 king ! consider
Who in this noble host can shoot like that
Among thy friends or foes unless indeed
1539 Thou shoot in person. May thy head and crown
For ever live. When thou tak'st mace and arrow,
And scimitar, thy warriors are awe-struck
At thy commanding height and royal Grace,
While other archers' hands lose all their strength."
The Shah said : " 'Tis of God. If He withdraw it
What strength hath then Bahram ? "
He urged Shabdiz,
And, ncaring a buck onager, let fly
His arrow, when the moment came, and skewered
Together chest and buttock. As it died
BAHRAM Gl'R 81
The nobles of the golden belt came up ;
They marvelled at his shot, and all applauded.
They could not see the arrow's point and feathers^
For they were hidden in the onager.
The warlike cavaliers and soldiers bent
With faces to the ground before Bahrain,
What while a paladin exclaimed : " 0 king !
Ne'er may thine eye behold the ill of fortune.
Thou art a horseman but all we ride asses,
And are but ill at that ! "
The Shah replied :—
" Not mine the arrow, for the All-conqueror
* eth me. None in the world is viler
Than one whose prop and helper God is not."
He urged his charger onward, thou hadst said : —
' Yon courser is an eagle in its flight ! "
A gallant onager appeared. Forthwith
The Lion reached out for his scimitar,
And with a sword-stroke clave the beast asunder
In < qual halves. Chiefs, nobles, and attendants
Armed with the scimitar, came up to him,
And, when they saw that stroke, a sage exclaimed : —
" What swordmanship and might are here ! Oh ! may
The evil eye ne'er look upon this Shah.
He hath no semblance save the moon in heaven,1
ith him are the heads of this world's chiefs,
While heaven la lower t han his scimitar,
At (I arrow-point ."
The troops that followed him
cleared all the plain of onager. He bade
Make lings of gold and grave his name thereon.
H> riii^-d the creatures' ears and let them go ;
Six hundred too he branded in a batch,
Thru iiv,-d tin-in tor the honour of his name,
1 tor hi* will and plea-mv. \\hilr a man
1 ' il n<- lainera peut-dtre pas la luno dans lo ciol." Mobl.
VOL. Ml. F
82 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
\\ i nt round the host proclaiming thus : " Let none
Sell to the merchants any onagers
On this broad plain but give them as a gift."
They brought him from Barkuh and from the chiefs
Of Jaz abundance of brocade and furs.
10 These he accepted and then bade remit
Those countries' tax and toll though both could pay.
Their poor and those that earned their bread grew rich
By reason of his bounty. Many too
Had thrones and crowns. He went home from the
chase,
And passed a week in mirth among his men.
It was his wont to hold an open court
Upon the riding-ground, and thither used
To fare the troops, the men of eloquence,
The wise, the needy, and the suppliants.
" 0 ye that seek your rights ! " he used to say,
" Take shelter from your enemies with God,
While ye that have not slept through toil for me,
And yet have had no portion of my wealth,
Come to the king upon the riding-ground,
And haply he will make your fortunes new.
If any one is old, past work, and weak,
Or, being young, is crippled by disease ;
If any of the people be in debt,
And worried by the stress of creditors ;
If any children are left fatherless,
And yet ask not of those possessed of wealth ;
Or if the children's mothers are in want
In secret and conceal their poverty ;
Or if, again, a wealthy man hath died,
And left behind young children in this land,
Whom an executor, devoid of fear
And reverence for God, is plundering,
Keep nothing of this kind concealed from me ;
I want not people that conceal their wants.
BAHRAM GUR 83
1 will enrich the poor, I will restore
The souls of misbelievers to the Faith ;
1 will defray the debts of those who have
money and whose hearts are sad, and open
My treasury's door to modest indigence.
If wrong befall from officers of mine
lauding children that have lost their sires,
Thnse doers of injustice will I gibbet
Alive lor wronging one of noble race."
The Shah, advanced in wisdom and glad -hearted,
Went from the- liu nt ing-field toward Baghdad,1
And to his presence came the haughty chiefs,
Both alien and those akin to him.
He bade his retinue disperse and sought
\\ n delightsome palace. They adorned
The bower of Barzin, the handmaids there
Were clamorous for musk and wine, the Idols
Got ready song and harp, the hall was cleared
Of strangers. What with harp and wine and pipe,
A i (1 sound of song, the vaulted heaven seemed
To greet the air. All night from every chamber
They brought forth bands of dancers that the Shall
t be not sad of heart . He spent two week^ c. 1541
In mirth, and oped his treasury day and night,
Gave largess, and departed for Istakhr,
Placed on his head the glorious, royal crown,
l"n locked the bower of Kharrad, and furnished
re with tr< a-uir and with drachms.
If any in that golden women's house
Had not a crown aloft an ivory throne
'I'll*- monarch of Iran growled mightily,
Bit at Ru/l.ih his lip in indignation,
Ai'd -,!;<1 : " The trilmte from Khazar and Rum
paid, to these, but for the nonce
Now requi-it inn ass-loads of dinars,
vi. v. 254.
84 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS!
And treasure-loads from Ispahan and Rai.
A women's house when in such case as this
Will grow all desolate and not befit
The fortunes of the monarch of fran."
They spread brocade upon the floor, and caused
Fresh tribute to be paid in every land.
The world thus passed awhile an easy life —
No war, no toil, no conflict, and no strife.
§ 19
How the Khan of Chin led forth a Host to war with Bahrdm.
and how the Iranians asked Quarter of the Khan and
submitted to him
Anon news came to Hind, Rum, Turkistan,
Chin, and all parts inhabited : " The heart
Of Shah Bahrain is given up to sport,
He taketh no account of any one,
He hath no outposts, no men are on guard,
And on the marches are no paladins.
For love of sport he suffereth all to drift,
And knoweth nothing of the world's affairs."
Now when the Khan of Chin heard this he levied
Troops from Khutan and Chin, paid them, and set
His face toward fran. No one took thought
About Bahrain while Caesar for his part
Marched forth in force from Rum. When tidings
reached
Iran from Rum and Hind, from Chin and all
The settled regions : " Ceesar hath assembled
And led an army forth while troops are seen
Advancing from Khutan and Chin," the chieftains,
The warriors old and young within fran,
All came before Bahram Gur, full of wrath,
Of rage, and bitterness, and bluntly said : —
BAH RAM Gl'R 85
Thy glorious fortune hath displayed its back.
The heads of kings should be intent on fight ing,
But thy heart is intent on sport and feasting ;
The crown and throne are worthless in thine eyes,
So are fran, the treasure, and the host."
The Shah, the ruler of the world, thus uneven.-:! c. 1542
Those archimages, his admonishers : —
My helper is the Master of the world,
One who is wiser than the wisest sages.
I by the conquering virtue of great kings
Will guard Iran against the claws of Wolves ;
By fortune, host, wealth, scimitar will I
.\\vrt this pain and travail from the realm."
II'1 toyed on just the same, his nobles' eyes
full of blood through him, and all folk said : —
This Shah will alienate all good men's hearts."
Yet Shah Bahrain's heart was awake and full
rouble at the tidings. Secretly
He organised the host while folk at large
Knew not his privy purpose. All Iran
Was in dismay at what they saw of him
Their hearts were riven by anxiety ;
They all were in despair about the king,
i held his rule and person in contempt.
Now when the Khan was drawing nigh Iran
s of him reached the monarch of the brave,
Who called to him the aspiring Gustaham,
And spake much of the Khan and of his host.
This Gustaham was paladin in chief.
minister, and fight came as a feast
To him. The Shah called Milir rim/, withal,
Son of Bihzad, he called too M hi 15.ii/ in.
Son of Kharrad. Bahrain, son of Piruz,
Son of Bahrain. Ruhham and Kharzarwan,
Wliieh twain were of Sasanian lineage,
One king of Rai, and of Gilan th<
86 THE SHAtJNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Who stood up stoutly on the day of battle,
With Had, son of Barzin, approved in fight,
Who was the ruler of Zabulistan,
Karan too and Burzmihr and Dad the grim.
Son of Barzin, while of the Iranians
He chose him out a hundred thousand men,
Men of discretion, well beseen in war,
Committing to a scion of the race
In power — Narsi, the brother of the Shah
So pure of Faith — those cavaliers and throne
And crown that he might guard the treasury
And realm. Narsi, that man of noble mien,
Possessed of Grace and Faith and loving looks,
Took up the charge, and thereupon the Shah
Chose from the host twelve thousand cavaliers
Fit for the day of battle — veterans
With ox-head maces and in coats of mail —
And marched thence to Azar Abadagan ;
But, as he took from Pars so small a host,
The mighty and the common folk alike
Thought : " Shah Bahrain is fleeing from the fight,
And making off toward Azargashasp."
What time Bahrain set face toward the Fire
From Csesar came an envoy swift as wind.
*543 Narsi received and lodged him fittingly
Within the palace.
Now the host approached
The high priest to get knowledge of Bahram,
And said : " Why scattereth he his treasures thus
Instead of heaping them like other Shahs ?
He squandereth gold everywhere because
He knoweth not its worth. Both citizens
And soldiers are dispersed, and all have sought
Some course of betterment."
At length, when words
Had waxen old, all folk agreed to send
BAHRAM Gl'R 87
A man of reputation to the Khan
!iin. " Because," said they, " ere evils come
With war and pillage we must try all means
To save Iran : the master of the house
IS lost.
Narsi replied : " This is not well ;
The world hath not a bed for such a stream.
Shall I ask quarter of the king of Chin ?
1 will dot ho earth with men and elephants.
There are arms, treasure, and courageous men,
Whose swnids would send dust out of fire itself.
Why this despair concerning Shah Bahrain
i use he started with a little band ?
Why have your thoughts turned evil thus ? If ye
Think ill then ill will come."
The Iranians heard,
And answered him perversely, saying : " Bahram,
Departing hence, took not a host with him,
And must we not resign our hearts to grief,
For when the Khan shall come to fight Iran
Our land will lose both scent and hue ? The foe
Will trample on us shamefully, Narsi
And all the host will be overthrown. All means
Will we endeavour to maintain our place
And standing In
There was an archimage,
A skilful, learnecl, single-hearted man,
ii umai by name, and him the Iranians chose
To gird his loins and undertake their cause,
i wrote the Khdn upon their own behalf
nging letter which began : " Thy slaves
Are we and bow down t«> thy will and
We send thee of the produce of Iran
Together \\ith <»ur homage and excuses,
With gifts too, toll and tribute, for we have
No power to stand against the king in war."
88 THE SHAHNAMA OF F1RDAVSI
So from Iran the blest Humai arrived
With certain nobles — men of honest counsels —
And gave the Khan the message of the chiefs,
Whereat his heart rejoiced. Humai withal
Spake of the swift remove of Shah Bahrain.
And of his hasty flight without a host,
< . 1544 Before the noble Khan whose heart and soul
Expanded like a rose. He told the Turkmans :—
" Now we have saddled the revolving sky !
Who ever took Iran without a fight
As we have by our counsel, wit, and patience ? "
He gave great presents to the messenger,
Drachms and no few dinars, and wrote this answer : —
" May wisdom company the pure of soul.
I do agree to what hath been proposed
By this ambassador of honest men.
When with my host I reach Marv I will make
The clime like pheasant's plumes,1 and streams run
milk2
By justice, prudence, and magnificence.
I will await the tribute from Iran —
The Lions' gifts and taxes. I shall come
To Marv, or rather I shall pass it by,
Not wishing to cause damage by my troops."
The messenger returned in haste and told
His converse with the Khan who led his host
To Marv, the world was black with horsemen's dust.
When he had rested he concerned himself
With feasting ; no one thought about Bahrain.
At Marv there was no rest or sleep for sound
Of harp and lyre, the troops were all abroad.
There was no watch, no prospect of a shock,
But all was sport, wine, parties, twang of lyre,
A fid feeling night and day secure from war.
1 Because " tadarv," pheasant, rhymes with " Marv."
• Reading with P. and T.
BAHRAM GUjt 89
The Khan was looking for the Iranians' tribute,
\Vruth that it came so late. Bahrain for his part
Slept not but guarded well his host from foes,
Kept his spies busy both by night and day,
And threw in feast and wine no time away.
§ 20
How Bahrain attacked the Host of the Khan and took him
A- soon as tidings came to Shah Bahram : —
" The Khan and his great host are all at Marv,"
He led his soldiers from Azargashasp,
Each with two horses but no baggage-train.
With Human helmet, morion, and cuirass
1 1 1- hurried on like wind by day and night .
-oldiers rushing like a mountain-stream,
And reached Amul by way of Ardabil.
Departing thence he marched on to Gurgan,
Knduring all the chieftains' toil and pain,
And i hence came to the city of Nisa ;
< >ne from Bisa preceded him as guide.
O'er mount and waterless and wayless tracts, C. 1545
At times unwonted, through the night till morn,
He marched and had the watch out night and day.
Thus Mvitter than a pheasant1 in its flight
He drew toward Marv. A runner from his scon
Arrived and told : " The Khan attendcth not
To state-affairs but followeth the chase
At Kashmihan with wicked Ahriman
As minister."
Bahram rejoiced to hear it :
II > travail seemed but wind, There for a day
He rested and. \\hen sired ai:d Shah and t rnn|»
1 See p. 88, nofe.
90 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Were all refreshed, reached Kashmihan. At dawn,
What time the Lustre of the world arose
Above the hills, all ears were filled with blast
Of trumpet and all eyes with glint of flag-tops,
The din of battle went up from the chase,
And filled the ears of Shah and troops. The clamour
Split mighty lions' ears. Thou wouldst have said : —
" The clouds are hailing," wouldst have said : " The
moon
Is raining blood," so sanguine was the dust
Upon that battlefield ! The Khan, aroused
And dazed, was ta'en by Khazarwan. Withal
Three hundred of the noblemen of Chin
Were captured and fast bound on saddle-back.
The Shah advanced on Marv from Kashmihan,
Thin as a reed with riding for so long.
The few of Chin that yet remained at Marv
They slew. He followed up the fugitives
For thirty leagues ; behind him was Karan
Of Pars. Returning to the hunting-ground
He gave the booty to the troops. When thus
He raised his head in triumph over Chin
He recognised in all the power of God,
Who to his other good had given the boon
Of might, and is the Lord of sun and moon.
§21
How Bahrdm took a Pledge from the Turanians, how he set up
a Pittar to delimit the Realm, and placed Shahra upon the
Throne of Turdn
Bahram Gur stayed to rest at Marv and when
Both Shah and war-steed were refreshed he chose
Bukhara for the next attack, for he
BAHRAM GL'R gi
Had changed from gentleness to bitterness.
II reached Amwi l in one day and one night,
Intent on conquest not on chase and sport.
il«- reached it in the night's tirst watch and crossed
The river1 and the desert of Farab.
\Vheiin- the air was golden with the sun,
And doffed its skirt of lapis-lazuli,
Tin- world was like a falcon's wing with dust
What time the world-lord passed by Mai and Margh.
II- smote the Turkman host and set on fire
Their fields and fells, the stars concealed themselves
lit hind the moon's skirts while the fathers made
Their way across the bodies of their sons.
All of the Turkmans that were leading men,
Both veteran and youthful swordsmen, came
Afoot hi evil case before Bahrain,
With full hearts abjeetly. and said : " 0 Shah !
O mighty one ! O favourite of the stars !
O chief of all the nobles .of the world !
Since now the Khan is captive that broke faith
Shed not the blood of those that did no wrong,
For tyranny becometh not the great .
It tliou demandest tribute it is well,
But why behead the guiltless ? All of us,
Both men and women, are thy slaves and are
Thy vanquished in the light."
The Shah's heart burned
For them. He sewed up with the hand of wisdom
The eye of his displeasure. In concern
That man of God rest rained his warriors' hands
l'i"in shedding blood. His favour thus secured,
man of wrath appeased, the leading ehirt's
Agreed to pay a heavy tribute yearly.
The Shah was well com « nt : he took the tribute,
And furl h« r sunu in lien of pillaging.
1 Probably the mod. rn ( liarjui. « The Oxua.
92 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
He turned and reached the city of Farab,
His cheeks were flushed and smiles were on his lips.
He paused, allowed his troops to rest a week,
And called to him the potentates of Chin.
He reared a column of cement and stone,
Which none, save by the Shah's command, might pass
Out of Iran, Khalaj, and Turkistan.
He made the line between them the Jihun.
There was among the troops one Shahra hight ,
A man of wisdom, rank, success, and fame.
Bahram made him the ruler of Turin,
And 'made his throne the crown upon the moon.
When Shahra sat upon the silver throne
He girt his loins and opened wide his hands,
Set too the golden crown upon his head,
And through the land joy universal spread.
§ 22
How Bahram wrote to announce his Victory to his
Brother Narsi and returned to Iran
1547 The business of Turan achieved, and when
The Shah's heart was released from care, he bade
A scribe attend him, called for pen and ink
And silk of Chin, and wrote Narsi a letter
About the Turkman war and what his troops
Had done. It thus began : " The nobles praise
Through me — a slave — the Maker of the world—-
The Lord of victory and mastery,
The Lord of Saturn, Mars, and Moon, the Lord
Of lofty, circling heaven, the Lord of mean
And miserable dust. The great and lowly
Are underneath His governance, and all
That is to be is subject to His word.
BAHRAM GUR 93
1 have indited from the coasts oi Chin
A letter to my brother in Iran,
And this same letter, writ on painted silk.
Is meant too for our chiefs and folk at large.
Those that were not engaged against the Khan
Mu>t hear the tale from us who fought with him.
Hi- army was so vast that thou hadst said : —
' The dust thereof hath smeared the sky with pitch ! '
coasts became as 'twere a sea of blood,
The un just's fortune drooped, and he was taken
Because * the turning sky was weary of him.
Now have I brought him on a camel bound,
With wounded liver and with blood-filled eyes.
The necks of all the proud are bent, their tongues
Are gentle, and their hearts are hot within them.
Those now pay tribute who were enemies,
And they that erred have come back to the way.
I and my host, as my well-wishers would,
Will follow this dispatch."
The wind-foot camels,
Foam-scattering, parted like a thunder-clap,
And when the letter reached Narsi the heart
Of that prince throbbed with joy. The high priest
came
With all the heroes of the royal race
Before Narsi, the palace rang with joy,
And all gave ear to that report. The nobles
Wnv ]>ri. -Ued at heart for shame before the Shah
I'.y reason of their fault . Among the chief-
Six score and ten and more went to Narsi
To proffer their excuses, saying thus :—
" Perverse suggestions and the Div's behest
Have led us to transgress the World-lord's way.
To such a host as that one would presume
That (;..d \\ould ope Heaven's gate. 'Tis marvellous,
ading with P.
94 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
C. 1548 Surpassing thought and all the providence
Of wise and learned men ! In thy reply,
'Mongst matters fair and foul, vouchsafe to givi-
A place to our excuse. Although the chiefs
Have erred the illustrious Shah may pardon them."
Narsi agreed and said : " So will I do
As to release the Shah's heart from revenge."
He wrote at once an answer to the letter,
Disclosing matters fair and foul, and said : —
" The Iranians in their pain and misery,
And for the sake of country, children, treasure,
Went for protection to the Khan of Chin,
Despairing of their own illustrious Shah ;
'Twas not through enmity, offence, or strife ;
No other Shah had gained their preference.
Now if the conqueror, the king of kings,
Will pardon he will make their dark night day.
Me they selected as the advocate
To urge their cause, and bade me : ' Plead for us.' '
An archimage, by name Burzmihr, agreed
To go upon that embassage, approached
The monarch of the world, and told him all.
The Shah was well contented by the words,
The fire of his fierce anger ceased to fume.
Then from Chaghan, Khatlan, Balkh, and Bukhara
The chieftains went with tribute, and the archmages
From the Gharchfs with sacred twigs, and pleaded
Before the worshippers of Fire, and thus
From year to year all those that had the means
Went to the court with taxes and with tribute.
When the Fire-fane was ready and the place
To hold the feasts of New Year and of Sada
The Shah approached Azar Abadagan,
He and his nobles and his men of name ;
They went to make their prayers before the Fire,
And all the archmages offered reverence.
BAH RAM GUR 95
The Shah gave largess to the worshippers,
And passing thence proceeded to Istakhr,
\Vhk-h was the glory of the king of kings.
From ox-hides and from sheep-skins, borne before him
Upon the backs of elephants, were scattered
A thousand quintals and eight score of largess ;
Part was in drachms, the rest in gold dinars —
Coin that an archimage of Pars would call
In ancient Persian " paidawasis." l Then
He brought his scented leather bags of coin,
And lavished gold and silver. If he saw
Upon a journey any broken bridge,
Or heard of any hostelry in ruins
From his officials, he would give command
For their repair out of his treasury
Without forced labour. On the poor withal,
And those that toiled to earn their daily bread,
H< lavished drachms, for bounty never irked him, c. 1549
While, thirdly, on the honest folk, the widow-.
And infant orphelins, he showered silver.
Fourthly, on those too old for work or warfare,
And, fifthly, on all those of noble birth
That were despised by wealthy folk, and sixthly
On folk that coming from a lengthy journey
Paraded not their poverty, he lavished
A treasure, and looked round him to do good.
All booty he made over to his troops,
And had no notion of amassing wealth.
He bade a pious archimage to brin<: him
TM\VII worn by the Khan of Chin. They took
Tin- jewels out and used them and the gold
To grace a Fire-fane's walls and decorate
Tin- throne-top of Azar. Tin -IK •<• ho departed
Taisafun where dwelt Narsi with those
Arch mages that advised him. All the cli
1 The " poidawasi " was a silver coin = to five dinars.
96 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
The great men of Iran, and governors,
Came forth to meet the Shah, and when Narsi
Beheld that royal head and crown, the flags
Resplendent, and that mighty host, he lighted,
With all the great men and august archmages,
And did obeisance to Bahrain who bade him
To mount again, and grasped him by the hand,
Then went up to the golden throne and sat
What while the chiefs stood girded in his presence.
He lavished treasure on the indigent,
They opened wide the prison's narrow doors,
The age was filled with jollity and justice,
The hearts of all were strangers to distress.
He banished toil and grief from every clime,
He made a banquet for the great, and all
That hasted to attend the royal board
Received a present worthy of a lord.
§ 23
How Bahrdm wrote a Letter of Directions to his Officials
The third day at a feast made for the nobles
A scribe was brought and set before the Shah,
Who, when his visage was relaxed with wine,
Wrote, joying in his lovingkindliness,
A letter which began with praise of one
That hath with knowledge laved his soul, made
wisdom
The jewel of his heart, won opulence
By his own toil and hardihood, acknowledged
That all good is from God, hath sought for wisdom,
c. 1550 Made friends of sages, knoweth that from justice
Naught will proceed but good, and knocketh not
Upon the portal of malignity : —
BAHRAM Gi'R 97
" If one complaineth of mine officers,
My noble chieftains or my men of war,
They have no prospect but the cell or gibbet,
And, if slain, vile committal to the dust.
Endeavour to make others' travail small,
Give joy and happiness to mourners' hearts,
Because the world hath stayed, will stay, with none ;
Be just and inoffensive, that sufficeth.
I am exemplary of what I say,
And an incentive to all righteousness,
For what a multitude of troops assailed
Me and this noble company, while I
Departed with a little host, and those
Who were mine enemies are now my friends !
One noble personage — the Khan of Chin,
A world-lord having signet, crown, and throne —
I captured, and the Turkmans' fortunes fell.
All-holy God made me victorious,
My foemen's heads have come to dust. Be service
My sole employ, mine every thought be right.
I will impose no tax for seven yea is
On subject or compeer. I write this letter
In our old tongue to chiefs and to officials
they may treat my subjects in accord
To righteous precedent and take no thought
Of doing wrong. Dispatch to me the names
Of those that are in want within your towns,
And in their portion have no day of joy,
And well will 1 content them. Furthermore,
It th.-re !><• any mm ot noble birth.
Who can recall to memory better days,
Them also with my treasures set past need,
And magnify the wise. The folk in debt,
And empty-handed, who are everywhere
Looked down upon and scorned, them too relieve
Of debt and write their names upon the roll.
\ "I.. \ ii. O
98 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Pray ye to God to keep our heart thus true
To custom and the Faith, joy in this precept,
And well entreat the underlings. Moreover,
Despise not your own slaves, for they, like you,
Are God's. Let one of wealth, and fit therefor,
Entrust to learned men his children. Make
Their spirits rich in knowledge and encrown
Their heads with wisdom. Keep your hands afar
From others' wealth, be ye without offence,
And worshippers of God. Be diligent,
Break not our fealty,1 and eradicate
The stumps, the suckers, and the roots of evil.
0/1551 Seek not to do your neighbours injury,
Especially the magnates and the rich :
Make God your refuge, keep His ordinance,
And your souls pledges of your love for Him.
Whoever hath grown great from nothingness,
And raised himself to independency,
Call him not great, such greatness dwindle th soon.
Be just, be worshippers of God, and wash
Perverseness and injustice from your 'hands.
All ye that have ! withhold not from the poor ;
Incline to holiness and act aright ;
Break not the hearts and backs of suppliants ;
Mishap is nigh to all things done amiss.
God's favour be upon the soul of him
To whom humanity is warp and woof."
When they had written thus on lustrous silk
The scribe dipped into musk his pen and wrote
The heading thus : " The monarch of the world,
The heart of justice, knowing good and ill,
The lord of pardon, Grace, and puissance,
Bahrain Gur, the all-bounteous king of kings,
To his marchlords and those beneath his rule —
The wise and understanding, warlike chiefs."
1 Reading with P.
BAH RAM GUR 99
Then runners, cavaliers, and cameleers
Went with the letter everywhere with guides,
And when it came to all the provinces,
To every nobleman and chief, all said : —
" Thanks be to God, the world-lord is devout .
Thereat the women, men, and children went
In all lands from their houses to the plain,
And all invoked a blessing silently
Upon that upright monarch of the world,
Then set themselves to feast and called for wine,
And harp and minstrelsy. They feasted half
The day, the other half they toiled.
At springtide
It was proclaimed before the court at dawn : —
" Let those of substance eat and give away.
Let them thank us for that which they enjoy,
And let the poor come to the treasury,
And carry thence five drachms of proper weight,
Together with three mans1 of bright, old wine
Huerl like pomegranate-blossom or like gold."
The world disposed itself to merriment,
The shouts of revellers filled town and hamlet
I'M til they bought a coronal of roses
For two dinars and gave without complaint
A drachm for a narcissus-spike. The old
< Jre\v young of heart with joy, the streams ran milk.
The Shah thanked God on seeing all the world
Thus glad.
One day he thus addressed Narsi : —
" Depart hence with the signet and the crown.
I have bestowed upon thee Khurasan :
Cause it to flourish ; joy our subjects' hearts ;
Be nothing if not just ; stint not thy hand
Within this Place of Passage.2 If our father
1 Cf VoLi p. 200 note.
M intcrrompe jamais le passage a travcra co pays." Mobl.
loo THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Sought ill he quaked therefor like naked men
Beneath an autumn -blast."
He bade prepare
A robe of honour for Narsi, thus voiding
An opulent treasury, and said to him : —
" God shelter thee, and be the sun's throne thine."
The journey took two se'nnights, then Narsi
Assumed in peace the rule of Khurasan.
When he had gone one week the Shah, whose heart
Was freed from care, bade, and the high priest went
Before him, bringing certain of the nobles.
The Shah addressed him, saying : " Caesar's business
Is dragging on, and his ambassador
Is waiting long for his dismission.
What sort of man is he, and from the standpoint
Of wisdom where is he, for wisdom straighteneth
The soul ? "
The high priest answered : " Blest be thou,
Lord of the world, and dowered with Grace divine.
He is advanced in years, discreet, and modest,
A man of goodly speech and gentle voice,
A pupil of the school of Falatun,1
A man of wisdom, learned, and nobly born.
He left Rum, full of energy, but now,
Since he hath been here, he hath grown depressed,
And torpid like a snake in winter-time,2
With weak frame and with cheeks of reed -like hue.
His servitors are all like sheep before
A hunting cheetah, but regard not us ;
Such are their manhood and their valiancy
They think none in this land a man at all."
Bahrain Gur answered thus the high priest : " God
Bestoweth Grace and diadem and might.
If He hath given me victory, and turned
My fortune's night to day, still Caesar too
1 Plato. 2 Literally, " in the month of Dai."
BAHRAM GUR 101
Is of imperial race, is great, is sprung
From Salm whose head was crowned by Faridun,
And can recount his lineage sire by sire.
He acteth in a manly, prudent way,
And hath not turned to madness like the Khan.
At audience we will call the envoy in,
To see if what he saith be to the point,
And then I will dismiss him graciously.
For men are useful to me in this world ;
One is for war and bringeth troops, another
For feasting and doth bring a golden crown.
I must maintain the honour of Iran,
The man that treateth with great men is great."
The high priest praised him lovingly and said : — c- *553
" Live happily so long as heaven revolveth.
He shall not speak save to exalt thy fame :
Mayst thou be chief among the men of name."
§24
Haw Bahrdm called before him the Envoy of Ccesar, and how
the Envoy questioned and answered the Archmages
The next day when the sun displayed its crown,
And rays proceeded from the vaulted sky,
The monarch of the world sat on his throne,
Ami called the envoy in before his lords.
That old man sage, experienced, eloquent,
mderstanding and retentive mind,
Approaching with dejected head and arms
•Ided, kneeled before the monarch's throne.
Bahrain both greeted and made much of him,
Set him upon i he t urquoise throne and said :—
11- i r thou hast sojourned long ; art thou not weary
Of looking on this land ? War with th< Khan,
102 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
Which closely partnered me, withheld me from thee ;
Now all our case is altered, and thy sojourn
Exceedeth bounds. To that which thou shalt say
We will reply, deriving from thy words
Good rede."'
The ancient envoy praised him, saying : —
" May time and earth ne'er lose thee. Every king
Possessed of wisdom joyeth in the words
Of sages ; sages are more nigh to God ;
Those that think evil have the darker day.
Midst this world's chieftains thou art chief, who art
At once Shah, chief, and best. Thy tongue's a balance,
Thy words are jewels, and who e'er will see
Gems weighed 'gainst gold ? Thou art possessed of
knowledge,
Of counsel, sense, and Grace, and all the methods
Of conquering kings ; thou art possessed of wisdom
And holy rede, and master of the wise.
Though Caesar's envoy I am thy slave's slave.
I carry Caesar's greeting to the Shah : —
' May this head, throne, and crown for ever be.'
And furthermore I have it in command
To ask seven questions of thy men of lore."
The Shah replied : " Proceed ; the highest honours
Await the eloquent."
He bade the high priest
Come to his presence with the famous sages,
But sighs were on his lips the while in view
Of what the man might ask. " What are," he thought,
c. 1554 ' The seven mysterious things whereof this Human
Would question us ? "
The high priest with the learned,
Men mighty in all lore, came, and the spokesman
Revealed the secret, telling to the high priest
The words of Caesar : " What is ' the within '
In thy nomenclature, what * the without,'
BAHRAU GUR 103
0 guide, who hast no other name therefor ?
What is * the above,' my lord, wjiat ' the beneath ' ?
What is ' the infinite ' and what ' the vile ' ?
What hath most names and ruleth everywhere ? "
11 -' not," the high priest answered thus the sage,
" And turn not from the path of understanding."
He then proceeded : " O thou man of wisdom !
( live ear to each reply that I shall make :
•re is one answer only to thy words.
As to thy question touching ' the without,'
And ' the within,' it is an easy one :
The heaven is ' tin* without/ air ' the within ' ;
They are the Glory of the Omnipotent ;
God, touching this world, is ' the infinite/
For lore to turn thee from Him is 'the vile ' ;
1 The above ' is Paradise, Hell ' the beneath/
And he is wicked that doth fear not God.
Next as to that with many names whose will
Prevaileth everywhere : O ancient ! wisdom
Hath many names, and wisdom compasseth
The will of kings. One man may call it love,
Another faith, but in its absence all
Is pain and tyranny. The eloquent
in it uprightness and the fortunate
AM in en ess ; 'tis at whiles long-suffering,
At whiles trustworthiness, for speech therewith
Is safe. So divers are the names of wisdom
That they exceed accompt. Allow that naught
Surpasseth it ; it is the chief of goods,
And knowcth this world's hoarded mysteries,
Whieh mortal vision cannot penetrate.
Again, the stars that glitter in the sky
Are what the master can afford to slight
For understanding of the Maker's work.
The eye that gazeth cannot reckon tl.«
And heaven above is unattainable
104 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
As being measureless, so thou mayst scorn
Such reckonings and processes of Fate.
( )ne that can follow not an arrow's course,
Shrewd though he be, will marvel still thereat :
Then what can be more futile, favoured sir !
Than to compute heaven's stars ? This much I know,
And if another replication be
'Tis that the Maker's mysteries are vast."
C. 1555 When Caesar's spokesman heard he kissed the
ground,
And offered praise. " World -ruling Shah," he said,
11 Ask nothing more of God, for all the world
Is thine to bid, the heads of all the great
Are under thy control, the world hath not
A king like thee in mind, thou praised by all
The high-born nobles ! while thy minister
In knowledge passeth sage and archimage.
All the philosophers are slaves to him,
And at his wisdom hang their heads."
Bahrain,
On hearing, showed his pleasure, his heart brightened.
He bade a robe of honour be made ready
Of things most valued in his treasury,
And gave the archimage withal ten purses
Of drachms with raiment, steed, and much besides,
And then the envoy of illustrious Caesar
Went from the royal presence to his lodging.
When Sol displayed its hand upon the sky
The king of kings sat on his golden throne,
And Caesar's envoy came to court, and with him
The high priest wise and worshipful. They went
With joy before the king of kings, conversing
On many matters, and the Shah's high priest
Said to the envoy : " Matchless, peerless sage !
What thing is so injurious that we
Must weep at its occurrence ? What know'st thou
BAHRAU Gl'R 105
So useful to the world that men become
Exalted when it chanceth '. "
Said the envoy : —
The wise aye will be great and powerful.
The person of the foolish is more vile
Than clay and undeserving of all good.
Thou spakest of the unwise and of the wise,
And hast received, maybe, the right response.
The high priest said to him : " Consider well.
Reflect, and put not fish upon the dry."
The envoy said : " 0 man approved by all !
One well may quote the sayings of the wise,
But, if thou knowest another answer, speak,
For knowledge giveth increment to fame."
The high priest answered: "Think, for speech
result eth
From thought and brain, and know thou that the death
Of one least harmful is the greatest loss
Of all, but thou mayst joy when bad men die,
Albeit death is common to us all.
This t In -n is profit and the other loss :
Let wisdom judge the answer of us both."
The Human gave assent to what he heard ;
Those words seemed excellent to him ; he smiled,
Did reverence to the Shah and said to him : —
" How happy is the country of Iran !
For others look not on a king of kings C. 1556
Like Mice, or on a high priest such as thine.
Thou art the world's high crown in understanding,
In priests thou art the greatest of the great.
Wouldst thou from Ccesar tribute ? Be it so,
Because thy minister is sovereign
In wisdom," and his words rejoiced the king,
Whose heart grew fresh as roses in the spring.
106 THE SHAHNAMA OF F1RDAUS1
§25
How Bahrain dismissed Ccesar's Envoy and charged his
own Officials
The envoy left the presence of the Shah,
The night came on, the Sable Banner rose,
The men of lore were weary of discourse,
The valiant monarch sought his ladies' bower.
The circling vault of heaven rested not,"
But roused the sleepers from their drowsihead,
The fountain of the sun set up its flag,
The world-Shah's head woke lightly from repose,
The chamberlain unlocked the audience-door,
The king sat down upon the throne of gold.
He bade a robe of honour be made ready,
The envoy summoned. Indian scimitars
With golden scabbards noble steeds betrapped
With gold, dinars, gems, musk, and spicery,
Beyond that ancient man's imaginings,
The shrewd Shah gave the envoy, then was busied
With his own folk's affairs. By his command
The high priest, who was counsellor withal,
Approached him with a noble company,
And he apportioned all the land among
Those warlike paladins, gave drachms and steeds
And signet -rings and casques, and, to the greatest,
Thrones, crowns, and provinces. He filled the world
With right, and small and great rejoiced in him.
He banned the unjust with chilling words, unlargessed,
And, after, thus harangued the archimages : —
' Ye sages worshipful and pure of heart !
The world for us hath many memories
Of doings of the Shahs unjust and just,
Whose hands oft-times were stretched for ill what while
Their persons lurked mid ease and luxury.1
1 Reading with P.
BAH R. I'M GL'R 107
The world was frighted by these evil men.
The hearts of all the good were rent in t \\ain ;
All hands were occupied with evil-doing,
And none was instant in the cause of God ;
The Div's work everywhere prevailed : hearts ceased
To fear the Master of the world. The head a '557
nd the hand of ill, the door
Of understanding and the quest of wisdom,
laid upon the Shah's neck, and in him
Especially are seen both right and wrong.
A ho stretched his hand out to injustice,
Was not a holy man, wise or devout.
Hold not his actions strange, for rust attacked
The bright steel of his heart. Consider too
The i -xperience of Jamshid and Shah Kau<
For having sought the guidance of the Div.
a her in like manner followed them,
And washed not his dark soul in wisdom's stream.
Hi- Subjects writhed, and many lost their lives
Through his severity. .\<>w hi- hath gone,
Hath left behind him but an evil name,
And hath no praise from any. yet let us
his soul, for God forbid
That it should writhe through our vindictiveness ;
And now that 1 am seated on his throne
way will doubtless be to Paradise.
I ask the world's Lord to bestow upon me,
Alike in public and in private, strength
To treat my subjects with humanity.
And make pure musk out of the darksome dust,
That \\hen therewith my body shall conjoin
None wronged by me may pluck me by the skirt.
Put ye ton nn the robe of uprightness,
ii hearts washed clean from wrong, for none is born
Unless to die, be he of Persian, Arab,
Or Rum in race ; death's charge is linn -like.
io8 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And from its claws none can withdraw the neck ;
It maketh quarry of the rending lion,
The dragon's body 'scapeth not its toils.
Where are the heads and crowns of kings of kings ?
Where are the mighty and the glorious chiefs ?
Where are the cavaliers and haughty ones ?
I see no trace of them within the world.
Where are its fair who joyed those chieftains' souls ?
Know thou that all whose cheeks are 'neath the shroud
Are wedded to the dust. Let all of us
Have hands both clean and good, and not commit
The world to evil ways. I swear by God,
The Lord of all, who gave to me the Grace,
With crown and throne, high birth and quality,
That if an officer of mine shall wrong
The mean or mighty by a pinch of dust
I will consume his body in the fire,
Or hang him to a gibbet by the neck.
If in the watches of the night a thief
Shall steal a poor man's quilt I will make good
His loss from mine own treasury with brocade,
And wash the hearts of mourners from their woe ;
While if a sheep be taken from the flock
In dark night or in snow-storm I will give
c. 1558 Instead thereof a steed of noble race,
And God forbid that I should ask for thanks.
If in a war against mine enemies
A cavalier is wounded in the fight
I will assign him yearly maintenance,
I will not leave his children in distress.
Praise ye the Judge that knoweth what is good
Throughout eternity. Let none lay hand
On water or on fire except the priests
That are fire-worshippers. Slay not draught -oxen,
For they are of avail in husbandry,
Unless past work and worthless to their owner.
BAHRAM Gl'R log
k-oxen too must not be slain, the land
ENr will grow void of grace. Deliberate
In all things with the men of lore and break not
The hearts of children that are fatherless.
Kr a 1 ii'ii from the promptings of the Div,
In fight ensue not feast. If I require
My subjects to pay taxes I abjure
God, throiu . and crown. Since Yazdagird, my father,
Did evil, to redress that wrong have I
minau-d justice. Let your hearts
All joy to do it and in gratitude
Observe the Cult of Fire. God may forgive him,
And guide him out of Hell to Paradise.
Give pleasure to the young, break not the hearts
Of lieges, keep from drunkenness in age,
For 'tis uiiM-emly in the old to tope ;
Sin ye not therefor, for in age 'tis well
To make your preparations to depart.
I < rod, the righteous Judge, approveth us
Let not the future trouble you to-day ;
here be pleasure in my subjects' hearts,
And let the nobles' heads be free from grief."
The chiefs, on hearing and considering well
Hi- words, all wept that such an one was theirs,
A Shah so wise and shrewd, acclaimed his worth,
And hailed him as the great king of the earth.
§26
went with his own Letter to Shangul,
A ./ / Hind
\ \uso wazir rose to his feet and said : —
judge of what is just and right ! tin- world
Hath ceased to fear malignant s, toil and stress
1 1 vo left our coasts. I !<»\\ Ix-it famed Shangul
no THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
the folk of Hind is still perverse ;
0 His bands of plunderers infest the earth
From Hindustan up to the coasts of Chin.
He will lay hands for ill upon Iran,
And thou shouldst apprehend this. Thou art Shah ;
Shangul but wardeth Hind, so why should he
Take toll of Sind and Chin ? Consider this,
And note his plans, for ill must not ensue."
The Shah,*on hearing this, was full of thought,
The world before him seemed a tangled brake,
And thus he answered : "I will deal herewith
In secret, not consulting any one.
I will myself alone observe his troops,
The conduct of his kingship and his throne,
Approaching him an as ambassador,
And not acquaint the Iranians and the lords.
O holy archimage ! write to Shangul
A firm but courteous letter."
Thereupon
His pious minister went with a scribe,
And others that were indispensable,
And canvassed all the case, brought paper, ink,
And pen, and wrote a letter full of counsel,
Instruction, knowledge, and the praise of God.
It thus began : " From God be praise on those
That seek His praise who is the Lord of all
That is and is not. All things have their peers,
But God is One. Of all that He bestoweth
Upon His slaves, on sovereign and subject,
Naught is more great than wisdom which illumeth
Both. He whom wisdom gladdeneth will walk not
The world for ill, and he that chooseth right
Ne'er will repent thereof ; he cannot savour
111 from the stream of knowledge. Wisdom looseth
Man from mishap ; may none be wrung therewith.
Wisdom's first token is that one should dread
BAHRAM Gt''R ID
Ill-doing all one's years and know oneself ;
Then must he search the world with wisdom's eye,
For wisdom is the diadem of kings,
And jewel of the men of name withal.
Thou know'st not thine own measure but dost plunge
Thy soul in blood. Now, set-ing that I am
The monarch of the age, both good and ill
Are laid to me. Do thou so reign that right
May be preserved, for ill is manifest
On all sides. 'Tis not kingly to make raids,
And cotton with tin- ill-disposed. Thy grandsin
Was vassal to us and thy sire a slave
Before our Shahs, and none of us allowed
Arrears in tribute out of Hindustan.
Now mark the fortune of the Khan of Chin, c. 1560
Who came thence 'gainst Iran. He gave to spoil
All that he brought, and writhed for his ill deeds.
I see thee also thus disposed, the same
Perversity, same Glory, and same Faith.
Now I have arms and treasures for the war.
My soldiers are devoted and arrayed ;
Thou canst not stand against my gallant men,
And there is not a general in Hind.
Tlmu art conceited of thy might, preferring
Thine own rill to the river. Now behold !
I have dispatched an envoy to thee, one
Of knowledge, eloquence, and high degree.
Send t rihute or make war and fortify
Tin- passes. Be our l»l«->sin^ on his soul
Whose warp and woof are equity and wisdom.
Whenas air's breath had made the writing dry
The \\ riter of the letter folded it,
And t h.-n i he scribe addressed it on this wise : —
" From this world's king, the monarch shrc\\d oi \\ it ,
lord of government, the lord of might,
The world's possessor, generous Bahrain Gur,
ii2 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
Who on the day of Ard in month Khurdad
Received from Yazdagird the royal crown,
Chief of the marches, guardian of the realm,
To whom Saklab and Rum are tributary,
This to Shangul, who ruleth over Hind
From Sind up to the river of Kannuj." 1
The monarch sealed the letter with his signet,
And then made ready for the chase, but none
Of all the host knew of his purposes
Except the nobles of his company.
Thus he drew nigh to Hindustan and crossed
The river of magician-land.2 On nearing
The palace of Shangul he gazed upon
The hall of audience with its gate and curtain.
It rose aloft in air, and at the gate
There was no lack of arms and equipage;
For there stood cavaliers and elephants
Amid a din of gongs and Indian bells.
He stood there all amazed and lost in thought,
Then on this wise addressed the curtain-keepers,
The servants and officials of the gate : —
" An envoy to this court am I, deputed
By conquering Shah Bahrain."
The chamberlain
Went to the royal presence from the curtain.
They raised it by the king's command and brought
The envoy in with all respect . Bahram. Gur
Advanced with stately step, and saw a chamber
With crystal roof. On drawing near Shangul
c. 1561 • Bahram beheld him seated on his throne
Of majesty, and crowned. The steps that led
Up to that golden throne were all of crystal.
There sat the king in all his Grace and might,
1 The Ganges is meant. 2 Hindustan. Cf. Vol. i. p. 163.
3 The first five couplets on this page arc read, as in P, in the following
order : 4, 5, 1, 2, 3.
BAHRAM Gl'K 113
Arrayed in silver broidered with gold thread
Beset with many a gem. Bahram beheld
The monarch's brother on an ante-throne,
And wearing on his head a jewelled crown.
The minion >at by : the monarch's son
Stood there before the throne. The Shah drew nigh
Thnvto, did reverence, and paused awhile,
Tln-n quic-kly loosed his tongue. " I have," he said,
" A letter written in our tongue on silk,
Sent to the king of Hind by Shah Bahram —
The world's lord who possesseth crown and throne.'
The king, on hearing what Bahram said, bade
To bring a golden ante-throne. They set him
Upon that seat of gold, and from the gate
Called in his comrades. Seated thus he said : —
" Exalted king ! 1 will unloose my lips
When thou commandest. May both good and greatness
Be ever thine."
Shangul replied : " Proceed,
F< >r heaven's blessing is on those who speak."
Bahram rejoined : " That Shah of royal race,
Whose like no mother in the world hath borne,
Tin- exalted prince, the glory of the state,
Whose justice turneth bane to antidote,
To whom all potentates are tributary,
Whose prey is lions in the chase, and who,
•aking up the scimitar in fight,
Con vert eth deserts into seas of blood,
-..sity like clouds in spring,
In whose sight treasures and dinars are vile.
t the king d Hind an embassy,
And lettrr \vrit on silk in Pahlavi."
\n. n
114 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAVS1
§27
How Shangul received the Letter from Bahrain and made Reply
The king, on hearing this, asked for the letter,
And marvelled at that chief. A noble scribe
Read it, whereat the monarch's face became
Like gall. He said : "0 man of eloquence !
Haste not to speak, and act not haughtily.
Thy Shah displayeth his imperiousness,
Witness thy journey hither. Should one ask
For tribute out of Hindustan the wise
Would disavow him. If thy master speaketh
Of host and treasure, and of giving land
And cities up to woe . . . well, other kings
Are cranes, I am an eagle ; they are dust,
C. 1562 I am a sea. None fighteth with the stars,
Or seeketh fame by warring with the sky.
Worth is much better than the useless talk
That maketh wise men hold thee in contempt.
Ye have not manhood, knowledge, realm or city ;
Your share of sovereignty is only loss.
My whole land is a hidden treasury
Whereon mine ancestors have laid no hand,
Beside my store of mail for man and steed,
Which, if my treasurer should bring it forth,
Would ask for elephants to bear the keys,
If mighty elephants could carry them ;
And should I count my swords and coats of mail
The stars would seem contemptible in sum
To thee. The earth will not sustain my host,
My throne, and mighty elephants. If thou
Shouldst multiply a thousand thousand-fold
'Twould be the sum of those that call me king.
Mine are the jewels of the hills and seas,
I am the present mainstay of the world.
BAHRAM Gl'R 115
The founts of aloe, musk, and ambergris,
The hoards of undried camphor and the drugs
That cure the suffering, whoe'er shall ail
Throughout the world, are plenteous in my realm,
A- well as silver, gold, and jewelry,
While fourscore kings with crowns of gold up-gird
Their loins at my behest. My land is full
Of mountain, stream, and chasm ; not e'en a div
Would find his way across it. From Kannuj
l"|) to the marches of Iran and thence
Right to Saklab and Chin the chiefs are all
.My men and cannot choose but homage me.
The watchmen of Khutan, of Hind, and Chin
in their challenges no name but mine ;
All >peak the praises of my crown and grow
M'-iv serviceable. In my women's bower
The daughter of Faghfur of Chin invoketh
God's blessing on me — me of all the world.
By her I have a lion-hearted son,
\\ hoM' scimitar despoileth mountains' hearts,
-ince Kai Kaus and Kai Kubad
iiath concerned himself about this land.
Thr«- hundred thousand warlike troops withal
laim me. Of allies I have twelve hundred,
Who all arc wholly in my confidence ;
All are my kith and kin by long descent,
And -tand before me here in Hind. Their war-cry
Would make the lions of the jungle gnaw
Tln-ir daws. It there were any precedent
hicis to vlay an envoy out of wrath
Thy head and body would I part, and let
Thy raiment \\ail for thee."
Bahrain replied :— C. 1563
t hou art great, 0 king ! sow not the seed
• . My Shah said : * Say to him : " If thou
choose not the pathway of perverseness."
u6 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
Produce now from thy court two men of lore.
Of fluent tongue, and happy in discourse,
And if in rede and wisdom they excel
One of these men with me then I have done
With this thy land, for wise men spurn not words ;
Or else choose out among the warriors
That wield in Hindustan the massive mace
A hundred horsemen to fight one of us,
And we, what time thy wit and worth shall stand
Revealed, will ask not tribute from thy land/'
§ 28
How Shangul prepared a Feast j or Bahrdm, and hoic
Bahrdm displayed his Prowess
Shangul, on hearing this, said to Bahram : —
" Thy counsel sorteth not with manliness.
Abide a season and relax thyself,
Why parley to no purpose ? "
They made ready
A splendid hall. Bahram reposed till noon,
And when the Crown that lighteneth the world
Had reached its height the feast was all prepared
According to the bidding of the king,
And zealous servants were about the hall.
When they had spread the board before Shangul
He bade a servant : " Summon to the feast
The envoy of the Iranian king, the man
Of fluent utterance and novel aims.
Bring his companions too and seat them where
Ambassadors are placed."
Bahram came quickly.
Sat at the board and oped his hand to bread,
But shut his lips to speech. The eating done,
BAH RAM Gl'R 117
Tht-y set themselves to quaff and called for harpists
AIM! wine. The seent of musk rose from the feast .
Tin- liall was spread with golden carpetings.
X >w wlien the lords were merry in their cups,
Ai.d iv.-Urd not of the future, king Shangul
Bade- two stroni: men attend, men fit to wrestle
Against the J)iv. These noble athletes came,
And girt their loin-i-loths round them. Those two
y< 'iiths
Contended lustily and strained and writhed
Together. N<>w Bahram took up a cup
Of crystal and the wine confused his brain.
II' -pake thus to Shangul : " O king bid me C. 1564
To gird me for a bout, for when I wrest le
A trains the strong I am away from harm
And drunkenness."
Shangul said smiling : " Rise,
And, if thou shalt overcome them, shed their blood."
Bahram, on hearing this, rose to his feet,
And I >< .Idly bending down the upright form
< )t him who>e waist he clutched (a lion so
Might M-i/i- ujx>n wild onager) he flung
"•man down so that his bones were broken,
And all the colour left his cheeks. Shangul
Was in amazement at the victor's mien,
1 1 Mature and his shoulders and his M rm^th,
Invoked (iod in the Indian tongue and deemed
Bahrain to be a match for forty men.
When they were all bemused with pleasant wim-
They left the hall of jewelled tracery
And. \\ln-n the vault <>t heaven donned musk-hued Silk.
Both young and old slept after banqueting.
Shangul went to his sleeping-place, the wiii«-
Had turiK (1 hi- looks and thoughts from king Bahram.
\\hen the musky-scented Veil was changed
ijold, and in tin- ^k\ the sun appeared,
ii8 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
The king of Indians mounted on his steed,
And went forth to the Ground with polo-stick
In hand. His servants bore his bow and arrows,
And for a while he rode to please himself,
Then ordered Shah Bahrain to mount and take
His royal bow in hand. Bahrain replied : —
" I have a number of Iranian horsemen
With me, 0 king ! and they are fain to ply
The arrow and the polo-stick when bidden
By the most noble king."
Shangul replied : —
" The arrow's and the bow are doubtlessly
The mainstays of the cavalier. Do thou,
Who hast such limbs and neck and might of hand,
String up thy bow and shoot."
Bahrain Gur strung
His bow and urged his steed with shouts. He took
And shot an arrow that destroyed the mark.
The sportsmen and the warriors 'gan to call
Their blessings down upon him, one and all.
§ 29
How Shangul suspected Bahrdm and kept him from Iran
Shangul, misdoubting of Bahram, thought thus : —
" This stature, Grace, and skill in archery
Resemble not a mere ambassador's
Of Hindustan, of Turkistan, or Persia,
But, be he of the Shah's race or a noble,
?Twere well I call him brother," smiled and said
c. 1565 Thus to Bahram : " Famed, high-born prince ! thou
art
No doubt the Shah's own brother, being dowered
With vigour, strength, and skill in archery,
BAHRAM. GV&. 119
Because the Grace of kings, the might of lions,
Are thine. Art thou then but a gallant chit
Bahram said : " King of Hind ! discredit not
Ambassadors. I am not of the seed
Of Yazdagird or Shah. To call him brother
Would be a crime in me. A stranger I,
Come from Iran, no seeker after knowledge,
No sage. Dismiss me for the way is long,
And I must not incur the Shah's displeasure."
Shangul replied : " Be not importunate,
For I have somewhat still to say to thee.
Thou must not be so eager to depart,
For hasty going prospereth not. Abide
With us and set thy heart at ease. If thou
Wilt have not mellowed wine then take it crude." l
He said thereafter to his own adept : —
" I have a secret for thee. If this man
Be not sib to Bahram, or in degree
Above his paladins, 'twill prove a marvel
To wise men's hearts. We must not trust his words.
Address him courteously and say : ' Abide ;
Tin -re is no cause for thee to leave Kannuj.'
Sayst thou : ' He will detect deceit herein ? '
1 1 words of mine may terrify his heart
It will be better far for thee to speak,
And talk to him in convenable terms.
Say t hus to him : * 'Tis well for thee to gain
More estimation with the khig of Hind.
if thou will abide \\ith him. and further
His subtle policy, thou shalt possess
The <_'M,.diirM march of Hind because the king
Hath ther in hiLfli e-term. 'Twill be a land
Of never ending springtide where the streams
athe of th<- rose. Tin- fortunate ne'er 411 it
u'lj where twice a year the fruit-trees bear,
* Couplet omit-
120 THE SHAH NAM A OF F1RDAVSI
Where there are treasures, gems, dinars, and drachms,
And where drachms can be had hearts are not sad.
The king is gracious and for love of thee
He smileth when he looketh on thy face.'
What time ye meet speak thou what e'er thoa knowest
To this effect and then inquire his name,
For that will joy my heart. Should our land please
him
Our favours would surpass his excellence,
We would appoint him captain of the host
Anon, in favour highest in the land."
C. 1566 The king's experienced minister departed,
Informed Bahram, and pointed him his way,
Then asked his name because without his name
No answer would suffice. Bahram changed colour,
On hearing this, perplexed for his reply.
At length he said : " 0 man of eloquence !
Make me not wan of visage in two realms.
I will quit not the Shah for any treasure
However much I may be pinched by want.
The teachings of our Faith are otherwise,
As are our estimations, wonts, and ways,
And every one that turneth from his king
Is lost by such revolt. No man of wisdom
Is eager for addition ; bad and good
Are transient with us. Where is Faridun,
The master of the crown, he that restored
The age ? Where are those chiefs of royal race,
The world-lords Kai Khusrau and Kai Kubad ?
Thou hast withal some knowledge of Bahram,
The young, ambitious, and imperious,
Who, if I cross his purpose, will avail
To bring the world in ruins on my head,
Leave Hindustan not field or fell but bear
Off to Iran the dust of Wizard -land.1
1 Cf. p. 112 and note.
BAHRAM Gl''R 121
-My better plan is to return to court,
And to the purview of the conquering Shah.
It tliou wouldst have my name it is Barzwi ;
.My monarch and my parents call me so.
imunicate mine answer to Shangul,
For I have stayed long in an alien realm."
The minister, on hearing this reply,
Told all that he had heard before the king,
\Vh<> frowned and said : " He holdeth him aloof,
But I will take such order that this Light
( )f hosts shall end his days."
There was a wolf 1
\\ it hin the monarch's coasts of bulk so vast
That it withstood the wind. The lions fled
The woods before it, and the swift -winged vultures
The sky. Thereat all Hind was full of fear :
Its howlings deafened those most keen of ear.
§ 30
How Bahrdm fow/ftl with the Wdf at the Bidding of
Shangul and sleic it
Shangul said to Bahrain : " O man approved !
All enterprises prosper in thy hands.
A wood near by my city troubleth me.
There is a wolf there like a crocodile.
And ivndrth lions' hearts and leopards' hides.
Let it be thine to go against this wolf, C. 1567
1 pierce its hide all over with thine arrows.
The world may find rest then and by thy Grace,
one I Thenceforth in mine esteem,
i h.-ii • >t all t his noble company,
rhaps for ' gurg," wolf, wo ought to read " karg," rhinoceros.
The word is spelt both with g and k in < '. and is made to rhyme with
" nasrg." death, and " tagarg," h»il- Of. NJN, p. 56, note.
122 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
Thy station shall be such that evermore
The folk of Hind and Chin all shall acclaim thee."
Bahrain, the honest, said : " I need a guide ;
Then by God's strength, when I behold the beast,
Thou shalt perceive its garment l soaked in blood."
Shangul provided him a guide that knew
The creature's lair and haunt, and then Bahrain
Went with his trusty guide toward the wood
Of that blood-shedding wolf. Much spake the guide
About its lair, its height and breadth and bulk,
Showed where it was and went back while Bahram
Approached apace. Iranians thronged behind him
With loins girt for the fray, but when they saw
Afar so vast a wood, the monster's bulk,
And lair that it had made, all said : " 0 Shah !
Adventure not ; thou wilt surpass the bounds
Of hardihood because, however brave
Thou art in fight, none hath fought rocks and moun-
tains.
Say to Shangul : * This may not be. I have
No sanction for this combat from the Shah.
I fight when I am bidden so that he,
On hearing of it, may advance my rank.' '
Bahram replied : " If holy God hath given
My dust to Hindustan how can I die
Elsewhere ? That is beyond me."
That brave youth
Strung up his bow, and thou hadst said : " He holdeth
His own life cheap ! "
He sped toward the wolf
With head all rage and heart resigned to death.
He grasped his royal bow and, having drawn
Some poplar arrows from his quiver, poured
His shafts like hail till by that token anguish
O'ercame the wolf. On seeing the beast's end nigh.
1 Garment for skin as in Job xli. 13.
BAHRAM Gl''R 123
Bahrain, exchanging bow for sword, smote off
Its head, exclaiming : " In the name of God,
Who hath not mate or peer and gave to me
Such Grace and might ! By His command the sun
Is bright in heaven."
He bade bring wain and oxen
To carry that wolf's carcase from the wood.
They bore it. When Shangul saw it afar
He had his banquet-hall decked with brocade,
And when the mighty king sat on his throne
He set Bahrain upon the seat of honour
While all the chiefs of Hind, and cavaliers C. 1568
Of Chin, applauded him. The lords all came
With offerings and spake thus to Bahram : —
" None ever did a deed to equal thine ;
Its brilliancy is more than eyes can bear."
As for Shangul he was both glad and grieved,
Appearing cheerful and depressed, by turns.
There was a dragon, an amphibious beast,
Which haunted streams and sunned itself ashore ;
It . with its breath, could suck huge elephants
n,1 and raise waves upon the dark blue sea.
Shangul spake thus to his companions,
His clever confidants : " By turns this envoy,
This lion -man, doth please and trouble me.
remained he would be my support,
I IK- ruler of Kannuj and of my realm,
But it he (rocth from me to fran
Bahrain will devastate Kannuj ; with such
A servitor to such a lord this land
Will lose both hue and odour. All t he night
\e I been imi^ini: o*«f his case and framing
sh device— to send him to that dragon,
Which >uivly he will 'scape not. Then shall I
il i nveloppait aveo aa qu«-m- un «'•!• -pliant «lc guerre" (Mohl).
: and nofr.
124 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
Be censured not on his account if he
Will fight with dragons."
So he called Bahram,
Told stories of the mighty men, and said : —
" God, Author of the soul, hath led thee hither
Out of the country of Iran to purge
The ills of Hindustan as is the way
Of men of name. A matter fraught with pain
And travail is confronting us, of travail
At first but treasure in the end. If thou
Accomplish this depart on thy return
With my good wishes home."
The Shah replied
" I may not leave the way of thy behests,
But will perform thy bidding faithfully
Unless the heaven itself shall turn awry."
§31
How Bahram slew a Dragon
Shangul said to Bahram : " Within my realm
There is a dragon — an exceeding bale —
Which fareth both by land and stream to hunt
The lashing crocodile. Thou mayst devise
A scheme to rid thereof the realm of Hind,
Whose tribute thou shalt carry to Iran,
For all the country will assent thereto,
C, 1569 And likewise gifts therefrom of aloe-wood,
Of swords, and goods of all kinds, with the tribute."
Bahram replied : " Great king and sovereign,
Whose word is law in Hind ! by God, the Just
And Holy One's, command I will cut off
The footing of the dragon from the earth,
But must be shown its lair whereof I know not."
BAHRAM Gt'R 125
Shangul accordingly dispatched a guide
-how it to Bahrain who went his way
With thirty horsemen, nobles of tan
And swordsmen. Hasting to the stream he saw
The dragon mid the gloom, its form, its writhing.
And furiousness, fire flashing from its eyes.
The nobles of Iran with loud exclaims,
And shrewdly troubled at that dragon, said : —
" Hold not this dragon as thou didst the wolf.
() king ! the other day. By one mishap
(ii\v not fran up to the wind, rejoice not
Thy foemen here."
The bold Bahrain replied :—
•• I imiM entrust my life to all-just God.
If I am doomed to perish by this dragon
My tim«- will be not lengthened or decreased
By hardihood.
He strung his bow, he chose
Shafts dipped in bane of milk,1 and 'gan to shower them
Down on the dragon, wheeling all the while,
Like horsemen in the fray, to left and right.
He sewed up with steel points the dragon's mouth,
Whose venom scorched the brambles, then he shot
Four arrows at its head, and blood and poison
Poured down its breast. The dragon's body failed
ason of those shafts, and all the ground
Ran wit h its gore and bane. Then lightly drew
Bahrain his sword of \\ateivd steel and pierced
The dragon's heart right dourly, hacked its neck
With sword and battle-ax, and flung to earth
It - lit< less form. The dragon overthrown,
He turned in duty to the Lord and said : —
" 0 Judge who judgest righteously ! 'tis Thou
That slewest this great dragon, for who else
1 Corruplio optimi pesaima. \\>- -lull have an instance later on. in ( In-
reign of NOshirwAn, of milk being turned to poisonous uses. See p. 320 stq.
126 THE SHAHNAUA OF FIRDAUSI
Hath might enough ? Thou art Thy servants' refuge
From every ill."
He sought the king of Hind,
The noble chieftain of the Sindian host,
And said : " The king is freed from these attacks
By His decree — the Judge and Nourisher's."
Shangul grieved, hearing this, because Bahram
Was in the saddle still. He bade that wains
And oxen should convey the dragon's carcase
To plain from forest, while all Hindustan
Invoked upon Iran the All- Just's blessing :—
c. 1570 " For there a cavalier like this was born
To fight with dragons. One who hath such limbs,
Such stature and such bearing cannot be
But equal to the king in his degree."
§32
How Shangul became troubled about Bahram and
gave a Daughter to him
All men rejoiced except Shangul whose heart
Was pained, the matter made his visage wan,
And when night came he summoned his wise men,
Both those of his own kin and aliens,
And thus he said : " This man of Shah Bahrain's,
Who hath such might, such limbs, and mastery,
Do what I may, is worsted by no toil !
Now if he goeth from us to Iran,
And cometh to the monarch of the brave,
He will depreciate my host and say
That here in Hindustan there is no horseman,
And so my foemen may grow insolent.
I will behead the envoy, will destroy him
By stealth. What say ye ? What do ye advise ? "
BAHRAM GUK 127
Bring not thy heart, O king ! " the wise men
answered,
" To sorrow by such deeds. For thee to slay
The ambassadors of kings would be an act
Unwise and senseless. No one e'er conceived
A thought on this wise. Compass no such plan.
Thou wilt be execrated by the chiefs,
And people should respect their sovereign.
BY putting this man's head within the shears
Thou wilt bring longsome trouble on thy land.
Forthwith will come an army from Iran.
And with a potentate like Shah Bahram ;
None of us in these regions will survive,
And thou wilt have to wash thy hands of kingship.
This man is our deliverer from the dragon,
And slaying should compensate not his toils ;
Here hath he killed the dragon and the wolf ;
< Jive him more life, not death."
On hearing this
Shangul grew gloomy, for the sages' words
IVrturbed him. Passing thus the night, at dawn
He sent a messenger to Shah Bahram,
And, when they were together privily
Without a minister or counsellor,
Said : " 0 thou Joy of hearts ! thou hast prevailed.
Attempt no greater feat. I will bestow
My daughter on thee as thy wife, for thus
Shall I be profited in word and deed.
This done, abide with me, for thou wilt have C. 1571
No colour to depart. I will appoint thee
The captain of the host and give thee kingship
In Hindustan."
Bahram was in amaze,
And mused upon his t hione, his birth, and glory.
There is no remedy for one's own acts,"
JI< -thought, and this thing cannot bring reproach ;
128 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Besides by this I may preserve my life,
And look again upon Iranian soil,
For, as the case is, we have tarried long ;
The lion is taken in the fox's net ! "
Thus said he to Shangul : " I will obey
Thy hest and make thy word my rule of life.
However of thy daughters choose me one,
Who, when I see her, may obtain my praise."
The king of Hind, on hearing this, rejoiced,
And decked his halls with painted silk of Chin.
Shangul's three daughters came like jocund spring
In all their bravery, their scents, their colours,
And looks, and then he bade Bahrain Gur : "Go,
Prepare thy heart to see a novel sight."
Bahrain Gur went immediately, beheld
The hall, and of those moon-faced maids chose one
Like jocund springtide, Sapinud by name,
All grace and modesty, all wit and charm ;
On him Shangul bestowed her — one that seemed
A straight -stemmed cypress and a smokeless lamp —
Then chose the richest of his treasuries,
Gave to the moon -faced maid the key thereof,
Called for Bahrain's companions, cavaliers
Of noble rank and masterful, and gave them
Dinars and drachms and every kind of wealth,
With camphor, aloe-wood, and ambergris,
Steeds, golden trappings, girdles, and for those
Of highest rank, gold crowns, while for Bahrain
He had a turquoise crown and glorious throne
Of ivory prepared, and decked his palace
Of jewelled tracery. All men of name
Within Kannuj resorted to that place
Of feasting, waiting on their king with joy.
They spent a se'nnight thus with wine in hand,
All glad and jocund in the banquet-hall,
With Sapinud beside Bahrain, the king,
Like wine in crystal goblet glittering.
BAHR/iU Gl'R 129
§33
How Faghfur of Chin wrote to Bahrain and how he replied
Intelligence came to Faghfur of Chin :—
" A man of Grace and courage from tan
Hath reached Shangul as an ambassador.
And verily is of heroic race.
Great exploits have been wrought in Hind and by c. 1572
The hand too of this valiant lion -man
Through resolution and the might of fortune.
Naught but the crown and throne befitteth him,
And on him hath Shangul bestowed a daughter,
So that hi> diadem might reach the moon."
That mighty world-lord wrote to Shah Bahrain
A letter superscribed : " From him that is
The monarch of the world, the head of nobles,
And crown of chiefs, to that ambassador
Of Persia who with thirty comrades reached
Kannuj." and then proceeded : " I have had
Accounts of thee, thou famed and glorious man !
About thy wisdom, prudence, and advice,
And how thou standest steadfast everywhere,
iat tin- \\nli and that notorious dragon
('mild scape not from thy shafts and scimitar.
Tin- lady <:i\rn to thee is my kin.
A <>rth the whole of Hindustan,
And thou hast raised thy head on high by thus
Ath'niiifz with this mighty potentate.
While in Iran 'twill magnify the Shah.
H- eroNMi well may bediadem the moon,
Because his envoy took fit comrades, reach « I
Kannuj, and clasped a Moon upon his breast.
v bear the toil, come hither, and abide
Within thi^ land so long as thou mayst wish.
I u Ml illume mine eyes with seeing thee,
VOL. vn. I
130 THE SHAHNAMA OF F1RDAUSI
And make thy rede the breastplate of my soul.
Thou shalt go hence at will. I will not bid thee : —
* Abide awhile.' So with a robe of honour,
And wealth, depart with joy, thou and thy chiefs,
Well furnished. 'Tis no shame for thee to come
To me ; I have no quarrel with the Shah.
On no wise be remiss in coming hither,
And, when thou wouldst depart, then tarry not."
This letter reached Bahram Gur and perturbed him.
He called a scribe, wrote his reply, and planted
A tree within the orchard of revenge.
The letter thus began : " I have received
Thy words. Thou canst have seen no land but Chin,
For thou hast superscribed thy letter thus :—
' From him that is the monarch of the world,
The most exalted of the glorious chiefs.'
It is not so ; new-fangled majesty
Like thine I do not recognise. Bahram Gur
Alone is king of kings ; we know none other.
No man remembereth any king like him
In courage, knowledge, Grace, and lineage.
Him I acknowledge, as victorious world -lord,
And know him greater than all other kings.
Again, for what thou saidst about my deeds,
And of my toil endured in Hindustan,
1573 That too was all the star of Shah Bahram,
Who hath Grace, throne, and fame. Accomplishment
Is the Iranians' own, they hold fierce lions
Of no account. They all are single-hearted,
They worship God, and in their blest estate
They fear no ill. Again, if king Shangul
Bestowed his daughter on me I achieved
That honour by my courage. He is great,
By his own courage driveth wolf from sheep,
And, thinking good to make affinity
With me, bestowed on me his worthy child.
BAH RAM GUR 131
in, for what thou saidst : * Arise and come,
And I will guide thee unto every good,'
The Shah sent me to Hind, and shall I go
To Chin for painted silk ? If I propose
A course like that he will approve it not.
Thou sayest further : ' I will send thee home
Enriched with treasures.' God hath set me past
The need of clutching after others' goods.
I praise Bahram for all his bounty to me,
And offer up thanksgiving to my God
Thivo watches of the day and of the night.
And fourthly, all the praise that thou hast lavished
Upon me in excess of my deserts,
This I accept from thee, 0 king of Chin !
And will report it to the Shah. May God
Give thee so many blessings that the sky
May not distinguish 'twixt their warp and woof."
Bahram dispatched this letter to the king
Of Chin when he had sealed it with his ring.
§34
How Bahram fled from Hindustan to Iran wtih the
Daughter of Shangul
When with the daughter of Shangul Bahram
Consorted she found out that he was Shah ;
By night and day she wept for love of him,
i k< -|)t her eyes upon his face. Her father
Heard of her love and ceased to doubt Bahram.
One day the pair sat happily, discussing
' 1 1 1 i ngs great and small , and Sh ah Bahram spake thus
" I know that thou dost \s i>h mo well, so I
Will t< 11 to thee a secret ; keep it close.
I would quit Hindustan. Dost thou consent
132 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Thereto ? I will take thee withal, but none
Among this folk must know. Within fran
My state surpasseth this and, furthermore,
1574 The Almighty is mine aid. If thou wilt go
Thy wise decision will promote thy weal,
In every place thy title shall be ' queen,'
And thine own sire shall kneel before thy throne."
She said : " Exalted one ! seek what is good,
And turn not from the way of understanding.
The best of womankind is she through whom
A smile is always on her husband's face.
If my pure purposes are not conformed
To thy command I joy not in thy life."
Bahram replied : " Then frame a scheme but tell it
To none."
She said : " O worthy of the throne !
I will, with fortune's aid. Not much removed
There is a place where festivals are held,
For in the forest there my father feasteth.
It is a place that men deem fortunate,
And thither gather idol-worshippers.
Hence to the forest is a score of leagues,
And one must weep before the idols there.
That is a place for hunting onager,
A place too for the worshippers of God.
Both king and host will set forth to the feast ;
He will not leave a soldier in the city.
Go then if thou art minded to depart :
Let feasts grow old but be thou young for ever.
Wait for five days, then when the world's Light shineth.
And he shall quit the city, get thee ready
To go thyself."
His wife's words pleased Bahram,
Who slept not till the dawn for thought.
Now when
The sun displayed its hand upon the sky,
BAHRAM Gl'R 133
».
And dark night packed, he mounted on his steed,
And rode forth with his weapons to the chase.
11' told his wife : " Make ready and tell none ;
Let us prepare and set out on our way.
Bahram departed, neared the stream,1 and saw
The baggage of some merchants on the road.
They recognised him, and he bit his lip,
For tlu-y were of fran — bold travellers
O'er sea and land. He bade them offer him
X( > reverence ; not even had he told
omrades what he purposed. To the merchants
II'- -aid : " Shut fast your lips ; on that depend
Our profit and our loss, for if in Hind
This secret be divulged the Iranian soil
Will be as seas of blood. Enlarged is he
Whose lips are shut, the tongue must be confined,
And both hands open. By a mighty oath
Will 1 bind fast your tongues till I regain
My throne. Say thus then : ' May we turn away
m God, the Holy and Supreme, and follow
Tin- Div it ever we desert the counsel C. 1575
Of Shah Bahram and contemplate ill -do ing.' '
Win -n this oath had been taken and confirmed,
So that the Shah's heart was relieved from care,
M- <aid : " Guard well my secret . tendering it
Lik. lit'.- it -It. if ye desire to turn
My bondage 2 to a crown ; but if thr throne
Be void of me armed hosts will come from all sides,
And 1 rave no merchants here, no Shah, no thane,
No host, no throne, no crov
When they perceived
import of his words they came with chesks
All \VH \\ithwrrping. " May the nobles' lives
Thy ransom be,'1 they said, " and youth and kinship
Thy habit. If the treasure of thy sern-i
:ulus, according to Mohl. * Heading with 1'.
134 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Should be revealed our country would resemble
A sea of gore ! Who dareth contemplate
Such things and turn his wisdom to an ax,
His counsel to a hatchet ? "
Hearing this,
The Shah 'gan praise those honourable men
Of Grace and Faith, and fared home ill at ease,
Committing to God's charge his soul and body.
He tarried till the banquet -hall was decked,
And till the nobles had departed thither,
But when Shangul himself prepared to go
Bahrain's wife said to him : " Barzwi is sick,
Would be excused, and saith : ' Be not concerned
For me, 0 king ! The banquet -hall to one
That aileth is distasteful, and the king
Must know thus much.' '
" Let none," Shangul replied,
" That aileth think of banqueting."
At dawn
He left Kannuj and hurried to the place
Of feasting. When 'twas night said Shah Bahram : —
" 'Tis time to go, good wife ! "
He seated her
Upon her palfrey and invoked God's name
O'er her in ancient Persian, donned his mail,
And mounted too, his lasso in the straps,
And mace in hand. He hurried to the river,
And found the merchants sleeping. Rousing them
He gat a skiff in readiness wherein
He seated Sapinud. With day begun
They came to land, and brightly shone the sun.
BAHR.j.M Gl'R 135
§35
Hmv Shangul followed Bahrain, learned who he was,
and was reconciled to him
A horseman from Kannuj sped with the tidings C. 1576
Of Shah Bahrain's departure, and Shangul,
Who heard it from that loyal servant, quitted
The chase as swift as fire. He hurried on
I'litil he reached the river where he saw
Both Sapinud and brave Bahram. He grieved.
Crossed o'er in dudgeon, and upbraided thus
His child : " O wicked wanton ! thou hast passed,
Bold as a lioness, across the river
To go Iran-ward with this lusty knave,
To desert waste from cultured paradise,
Without my knowledge. Now thou shalt behold,
Since thou hast left my pillow secretly,
The impact of my double-headed dart."
Bahram replied : " O thou of evil mark !
Why didst thou urge thy steed as madmen do ?
Thou hast had testimony that in war
I am as with the cup and boon -companions.
A hundred thousand men of Hindustan
Before me would not equal, as thou knowest,
One horseman like me and my thirty comrades,
Famed, clad in mail, and wielding Persian swords.
I will fulfil the Indians' eyes with blood,
And will not spare a soul."
Shangul was ware
That lit- had sp^km sooth because his prowess
And valiancy could not be overlooked,
But answered him : " I have foregone my children.
My kindred, and allies, have held thee dearer
Than mine own eyes, and as t he diadem
Upon my head, and given theo her \\hmn thou
lidst ehooae. The right is on my side,
136 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
The wrong on thine. Instead of good faith thou
Hast chosen outrage. Ever hast thou heard
Of good faith paid thereby ? Shall I tell thee :—
* One of my kin and wise in mine esteem
Hath gone off cavalierly, gone conceiving
Himself a king ? ' What hath a Persian's heart
In common with good faith ? He sayeth ' yea '
And meaneth * nay ' ! Thou'rt such a lion's whelp,
In good sooth, as would bathe in their hearts' blood
Its nurses and, when fanged and sharp of claw,
Would purpose combat with its fosterer ! "
Bahrain made answer : " When thou knowest me
How shalt thou call me ill in thought and deed ?
I shall be unreproached for having gone,
Thou wilt not term my heart and conduct evil.
c- iS77 The king of kings am I both of Iran
And of Turan, the leader of the folk,
The mainstay of the brave, and will requite
Hereafter thy deservings and behead
Thy foes, hold thee as father in fran,
And vex thee not with tribute for thy realm.
Thy child shall be the Lustre of the West,
And Crown of dames."
Astounded at his words
Shangul took off his Indian turban, spurred
His steed, and from the front of that great host
Approached the Shah to make excuse, embraced
The king of kings with joy, and sought to amend
What had been said. He was rejoiced to see
Bahrain, prepared the board, and brought the cup.
Bahrain revealed the secret to Shangul,
Discoursed of the concernments of Iran,
And said : " Such circumstances and such thoughts
Were those that guided me in this affair."
They both of them arose, the drinking done,
And each asked pardon of the other one.
BAHRAM GUR 137
§36
How Shangul went back to Hind and Bahrdm to L
These two kings — one a \\on-hipper of God,
The other an idolater — joined hands,
And pledged themselves : " Henceforth we \\ ill not
sever
Out hearts from right, will raze each root of guile.
1\< vp faith for aye, and listen to the words
From sages* lip-.
Shangul too bade farewell
To Sapinud, he made his breast the warp
And hers the woof. The two kings quickly turned
Their backs on one another and flung down
The rancour of their hearts upon the dust.
One land- ward went . the other river-ward,
Apace and glad.
When tidings reached Iran :—
The Shah himself with those escorting him
Hath come back from Kannuj," the people all.
A- t hey \\eiv minded, decked the roads and cities, ,
And everywhere strewed money, musk, and saffron.
When Vazdagird received the news he gathered
The scattered troops. He and Narsi, the high priest,
And all the sages, went to meet the Shah.
When Yazdagird beheld hi^ HIV Bahrain
lit- lighted douii and lient him to the duM .
Narsi, the monarch's brother, and withal
hiirh priest had cheeks duM -stained \m\ ulad hearts.
On such wise Shah Bahram came to his pain
Committing soul and body both to God.
II- iv-trd \\hni t In- \\nrld L:IV\V dark and \vhilr C. 1578
Tin- in. .on \vafi like a silvrru -hit-Id. l»ut \\hru
l( ivnt night's raiment, and ilir world's Light
showed,
138 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
The king of kings sat on his golden throne,
Gave audience but refrained his lips from speech.
Came all the nobles with the men of lore,
And princes of the empire, then the world-lord
Rose on his throne and spake words just and holy,
First spake of the Creator, then discharged
His debt l to wisdom, and thus said : " Revere
The Almighty in whose ken the manifest
And hidden are, Him praise, and unto Him
Address thy supplications midst night's gloom,
For he hath given power and victory,
And is the Lord of shining sun and moon.
All ye that would gain Paradise abstain
From evil and foul deeds. Where there is justice
With bounteousness and righteousness the heart
Will turn from guile and loss. Let none henceforth
Fear me though he possesseth hills of gold,
And mines of silver. From your hearts expel
All fear and seek addition of all good.
The peasant and the thane are one to us
When we are judge. When we gave crown and
, throne
To any know that 'twas from God and fortune.
I will strive not to fill my treasury,
I would drive not my people from their homes.
One treasure only — justice — will I hoard
That after death my spirit may rejoice.
Thus too, God willing, will my heart grow bright,
And fortune smile. Hereby I shall increase
Our blessings and direct you to fair fortune.
He who hath borne oppression from my troops,
Officials, kin, and cavaliers of war, _
And doth acquaint me not, but keepeth hidden
That knavery, is guilty of the crime ;
Will one so futile e'er endeavour greatness ?
1 Beading with P.
BAHRAM GL'K 139
I call to God for justice on the man
That hath concealed the moon behind a cloud ;
But if your will is other, for men's motives
Are diverse, tell mo boldly ; haply I
May bring to pass your long-conceived desires.
Attend to me, do what I bid, and find
Your souls' peace in my counsels."
Thus he spakr.
Resumed his seat upon the throne, rejoicing,
And set the crown of greatness on his head.
The nobles praised him, saying : " May the crown
And sign< -t ne'er lack thee. Realm, crown, and throne c. 1579
All glory in a Shah that is both wise,
And of victorious fortune, but with thee
Thy hardihood, thy knowledge, and thy Grace
Are greater than the throne of king of kings.
A Shah like thee the world remembereth not
For manliness, for treasmv. and for justice.
To bless thee is incumbent on us all,
Both young and old, and we will glorify thee
To God and in the presence of our folk.
No Shah hath sat upon this throne of gold
Like ther in justice, victory, and might.
Thou raisest from the dust the dead by justice,
By goodly speech, and by munificence.
May God almighty be thine aid, and may
The head of fortune's star be in thy lap."
The mighty men and sages prosperous
\\Vnt from the monarch's throne with songs of joy.
Then mounting with his troops he drew anear
The pm-incts of Azargashasp. He lavished
L^old and jewels on the mendicants,
< >n those especially that hid their want .
Tl.r hi<_rh prirM of the Fire -fane of Zarduhsht
Came muttering prayers with sacred twigs in hand.
Th«- Shah brought Sapinud to him. and he
140 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Instructed her in custom, Faith, and rite,
In limpid water and the good religion
Bathed her and banned from her dust, rust, and soil.1
The Shah unlocked the prisons and began
Bestowing gifts of drachms on every man.
§ 37
How Shangul with seven Kings visited Bahram
Now from his child — the consort of the Shah—
Shangul heard of the doings of her spouse,
And was desirous to behold Iran —
The dwelling of the noble monarch's daughter.
He sent an Indian -eloquent and noble
As envoy to request the Shah to grant
Another treaty to be stored away
For record, and the world's lord had one drawn
Like shining Sol in jocund Paradise.
The envoy took withal a letter written
In ancient Persian by the Shah's own hand,
And went his way.2 Now when he reached Shangul,
And when the monarch of Kannuj had seen
Bahram Gur's letter, he prepared to journey
From Hindustan, but hid it from his kindred
In Chin. Seven monarchs followed in his train,
Escorting Rai 3 Shangul upon his way—
The monarch of Kabul, the king of Hind,
The king of Sind with troops, the famous king
C. 1580 Who ruled Sandal, the monarch of Jandal,
A potent prince, the monarch of Kashmir,
A man of mastery, and last of all
The great and glorious monarch of Mult an,
1 " la debarrassa de la poussidre et de la rouille de Vidoldtrie " (Mohl).
8 Reading with P. 3 Rai = Rdja.
BAHRAU GLR 141
All coveters of honour, all with crowns,
All wearing torques and earrings, all with escorts
And camp-equipment . all of them renowned.
Of hiirh eMute and rank, all exquisite
With silver, gold, and gems ; their parasoN
Were all of peacocks' plumes, their elephants
Had housings of brocade, their escorts glittered
O'er miles with offerings for the Shah and gift B,
Such that dinars seemed worthless in his eyes.
Thus king Shangul and those seven kings withal
Proceeded stage by stage, and, when they neared
Iran with all their precious equipage,
The Shah, informed of their approach, arrayed
A host to go to meet them while the chiefs
Of every city went to welcome them.
The king of kings in wisdom old, and wary
Though young in years, advanced to Nahrawan.
The two illustrious and exalted kings
Drew near to one another, both of them
Alighted from their steeds and, as they met,
Both offering greetings and apologies,
Embraced. Both retinues alighted too :
The world was full of babble. Much talk passed
On matters great and small when thus the kings
Of 1 liese two kingdoms met. They both remounted,
As did their worshipful and famous troops.
Bahram Gur set him up within his halls
A golden t hrone draped as the custom was,
Set wine upon the board and furnished minstrels.
The whole place rang with song. He spread a board,
An arrow-flight in length, with roasted lambs l
And t< »\\ls. The eating done, he held a revel
In royal wise — all colour, scent, and beauty.
The- handmaids and t he slave-boys stood around,
;.;dl. and palace were like Paradise,
1 if. V.-I. vi. |>. 238 and note.
142 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
The wine -cups were all crystal, there were chargers
All golden, musk, and scents. The revellers
Wore jewelled crowns and shoes depict with gems.
Shangul was in amazement at the palace,
And as he drank he pondered : " Is fran
A paradise or garden where one's friends
Exhale the scent of musk ? "
Thus to the Shah
Said he in private : " Let me see my daughter."
c. 1581 Bahrain bade eunuchs of the company
Conduct him to that Moon. The noble king
Went with them and beheld another palace
Like spring. When he beheld her on her throne
Of ivory, crowned with an amber crown,
He came and kissed her on the head, and laid
His cheek to hers and wept exceedingly
For love of her as did the Fair o'er him.
He stroked her hand and speaking of that hall,
That palace, and reception-room, he said : —
" Behold a paradise ! Thou hast escaped
A wretched palace and a foul abode."
The gifts that he had brought with him — the
purses,
The crowns, and slaves withal, the gems and raiment,
Whose value none knew how to estimate,
He gave to her. He gave great largess too,
And that blithe home was like a garth in spring.
Departing thence he went back to the Shah,
Disposed for drinking by his happiness.
Now when the lords were merry with the wine
Shangul departed to his couch to sleep,
And, when the Veil of musky hue appeared
With stars to spot it like a leopard's back,
The revellers betook them to sweet slumber,
While all the attendants stood with folded arms.
Thus was it till that golden Cup appeared,
BAHRAM Gl'-R 143
Which thou wouldst call the sun, flung off the cloak
Of lapis-lazuli, and strewed the waste
With topazes ; then valiant Shah Bahrain
Wmt forth to hunt and took the Indian kings,
Went to the chase with cheetahs, hawks, and falcons l
Imperious. For a while they did not irk
Their hearts, not one of them felt pain and grief
As for a month they hunted on the waste
Gazelle and onager. Then they returned
With instancy to wine and festival.
Thus king Shangul, when hunting and when feasting,
Ne'er was long absent from the world-lord's side,
Or at the riding-ground, at merrymake,
At banquet and at polo, turned his face
For one day from the Shah. A long while passed,
The Indian king prepared to journey home.
He sought his daughter with a loving heart,
And stayed with her a while. He bade a slave-boy
Bring pen and paper to him, then he sought
For phrases scented with black, pounded musk,
And wrote in Indian a righteous rescript,
As it were ancient Persian. First he praised
II im who had washed the world of its distre-
Had spread abroad integrity and right, C. 1582
And flung black lies and loss upon the Div : —
" I serve upon the way of use and Faith,
Not that of anger or for vengeance sake.
I 1 1 ave bestowed my daughter Sapinud
Afl wife on Shah Bahrain, that noble prince.
May he live ever as the king of kings,
And be the great ones of the world his slaves.
As soon as I shall quit this Wayside Inn
Let king Bahram become Rai of Kanimj
Transgress not the commandment of that king,
And carry my dead body to tin- lin
» Cf. p. 76, note. • Cf. p. 140, note.
144 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Give up my treasury to Shah Bahrain,
And therewithal crown, kingdom, throne, and casque."
This deed of gift in Indian characters
On silk he gave to Sapinud as hers.
§ 38
How Shangul returned to Hindustan, and how Bahrain
remitted the Property-tax to the Landowners
Shangul abode for two months in tan,
And then dispatched a noble to the Shah
To ask permission to depart, both he
And his illustrious counsellors, for home.
The king of kings consented that Shangul
Should start on his return to Hindustan,
And bade an archimage to choose among
The treasures of Iran — dinars, gems, silver,
Gold, thrones and crowns, swords, girdles and brocade.
And stuffs uncut — unbounded, countless gifts
To give Shangul while for his suite he furnished,
To each in his degree, steeds and brocade
Of Chin, dismissed them happy and content,
And wrent three stages with Shangul. Besides
The gifts he gave them provand to the coasts
Of Hindustan.
When Shah Bahram returned
He sat in peace upon the throne, but mused
Of death and of ill fortune till his heart
Ached and his face grew wan. He bade a scribe —
A noble archmage who was his vizir —
To come to him and bade him to inspect
The treasury and reckon up the gold,
The gems, and raiment, for astrologers
Had told him, and the words had troubled him : —
BAHRAU GUR 145
" Thy life will last three score of years, the fourth score
Will make thee weep at death," and he had said :—
" The first score years will I devote to pleasure, C. 1583
Will set joy as a shoot within my soul,
1 in the next will justify the world
quity and liberality
In public and hi private. 1 \\ ill Irave
No corner waste and will provide for all.
In t he third score I will entreat the Lord ;
Perchance He will direct me on my way."
The astrologer said sixty years and three,
But of the three the reckoning was not clear,
And so the Shah desired sufficient treasure
To meet the presage of the astrologer,
'• would he have not self-reproach and travail ?
The treasurer went to the treasury,
On hearing this, and laboured at the account.
He toiled exceedingly till he had told
The total to the monarch's minister,
Who thereupon went to the famous Shah,
And said : " For three and twenty years to come
In sooth thou wilt need naught. I have allowed
For provand, largess, and thy famed troops' pay,
For envoys that arrive from other kings,
And from thine own famed provinces, and thou
Possesses! for these years a treasury filled
With silver, gold, and goods."
On hearing this
Bahrain took thought, he was too wise to sorr< >\\
Beforehand, and replied : " My sway is ending.
Tli is \vnrl<|. it thou reflectest, hath three days.
Since yesterday is over, and to-morrow
Not come, to-day I stoop not under can
As I have means of largess and a throne
ivory I will have no more tax."
He bade that no tax should be asked thenceforth.
VOL. vn. K
146 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
From small and great. He set up in each city
A man to rouse the drowsy and check strife
Wherefrom proceedeth naught save evil deeds.
He gave those wise archmages what was needful
By way of provand, clothes, and draperies
Out of his treasury, and said to them :—
" Ye must hide nothing good and bad from me.
Be ye the arbitrators of disputes,
Make no demands that make yourselves vexatious,
Report both good and ill, and cut my fears
Concerning evils short."
This thing obtained
Throughout the world, and nothing good and bad
Remained concealed. Those sages ordered all,
But still from every province letters came,
Which said : " Through bounty,1 idleness,2 and wealth
The brains of men are ceasing to be wise.
c. 1584 There is such strife and bloodshed in the world
That young men set no value on the great ;
The young men's hearts are filled with many things,
But not with thoughts of Shah and archimage.
Their faces they have turned from gain to guile,
They have grown troublesome and combative.
The peasants, landowners, and unemployed,
All give themselves to battle and contention."
When letters of this kind arrived the Shah
Was heart-pierced at the bloodshed. In each province
He chose officials, wise and understanding
As was befitting, and provided them
Out of his treasury with food and raiment,
The means for largess, and its allocation,
And for six months established offices,
Requiring of his subjects drachms in payment,
And stamping " tax " on silver thus received.
The officers wore crowns and had great state.
1 Or, with Mohl, " Ics dons du rot." 2 Reading with P.
BAHRAU GUR 147
S
For six months he received, for six gave back
To wretched mendicant and man of birth.
He strove in this way to keep men of war
From bloodshed and inaugurating ill.
Again his agents wrote : " Muniik-ence
h robbed the world of its security,
For they that have the money pay no tax,
But only meditate more bickerings.
Instead of being crass they have grown cruel,
They are all troublesome and quarrelsome."
Now when Bahrain Gur had perused this letter
His heart was troubled at such deeds. He bade : —
" Treat in accord to God's decree all those
That shed blood or employ deceit, that all
v find the means of livelihood."
He chose
A marchlord full of justice and of knowledge
For every province as was fit. He gave them
A court -allowance for a year, invoking
The Giver of all good. Much time passed by,
And then the monarch had a letter sent
To those truth-speaking men and correspondents,
Whom he had scattered through the world, to ask : —
" What is there in the world unprofitable,
And bringeth injury upon this realm ? "
They wrote in answer: 'Through the monarch's
gifts
No man observeth rule and precedent.
Tin-re is no thought or care for tilth or toil
Wherefrom man's worth deriveth. We behold
Draught-oxen straying and the herbage lush
Itli and springing crop."
Tho Shah rejoined : —
! midday, wl, Anrld-illmniii^ sun
Is at its height, the tiller of the soil
i*t rest not from 1;U \\<>rk. Tin- <>th»T 1,
148 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Is for repose and sleep. If men are fools
We can but weep for them. If any lacketh
C. 1585 Fruits, seed, and oxen be not stern and harsh
Toward him but kind and aid him from my treasures
That none may be distressed by indigence.
So likewise if the weather causeth loss,
And nobody is sovereign o'er the weather,
Or locusts anywhere conceal the earth,
And eat the herbage to the naked soil,
Give compensation from the treasury.
Proclaim this edict in the provinces.
If there are sterile routes or if the land
Be but a waste and all uncultivate,
And whether it be owned by rich or poor,
From such as I describe demand not aught,
And if a man, one of my servitors,
Or mine own foster-sire, shall take one mite
Him will I bury on the spot alive :
God give him neither home nor dwelling-place."
They sealed the letter with the royal ring,
And sent the camel-posts a -hurrying.
§ 39
How Bahrdm summoned Gipsies from Hindustan
Thereafter he sent letters to each archmage,
Grave clothing to the mendicants, and asked : —
"In all the realm what folk are free from toil,
And who are mendicants and destitute ?
Tell me how things are in the world, and lead
My heart upon the pathway toward the light."
An answer came from all the archimages,
From all the nobles, and the men of lore : —
" The face of earth appeareth prosperous,
Continuous blessings are in every part,
BAHRAM Gl'K 149
Save that the poor complain against the ills
Of fortune and the Shah. ' The rich,' they say,
* Wear wreaths of roses in their drinking-bouts,
And quaff to minstrelsy, but as for us
Thry do not reckon us as men at all.
The empty-handed drinkcth with no rose
Or harp/ The king of kings should look to it."
The Shall laughed heartily at this report,
And sent a camel-post to king Shangul
To say thus : "0 thou monarch good at need !
S.-l.-ct tfii thousand of the Gip>\ -tribe,
Both male and female, skilful on the harp,
And send them to me. I may gain mine end
Through that notorious folk."
Now when the letter
Came to Shangul he raised his head in pride
O'er Saturn's orbit and made choice of Gipsies, c. 1586
As bidden by the Shah who, when they came,
Accorded them an audience and gave each
An ox and ass, for he proposed to make
The Gipsies husbandmen, while his officials
Gave them a thousand asses' loads of wheat,
That they might have the ox and ass for work,
Employ the wheat as seed for raising crops,
And should besides make music for the poor,
And ivndrr them the service free of cost.
Gipsies went and ate the wheat and oxen,
Then at a year's end came with pallid cheeks.
Tin- Shah said : " Was it not your task to plough,
To sow, and reap ? Your asses yet remain,
So load them up, prepare your harps, and stretch
The silken chords."
And so the Gipsies now,
According to Bahrain's just ordinance, •
t»\ 1 1n-ir wit > . i hry have for company
The dog and wolf, and tramp unceasingly.
150 THE SH AH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
§ 40
How the Time of Bahrdm came to an End
Thus passed he three score years and three, and had
No equal in that age. With New Year came
The scribe — the wise archmage, his minister —
And said to him : " The treasury of the king
Of mighty men is void, and I have come
For thy command. Those that enjoyed this wealth
Expect us not to levy any tax."
The monarch answered : " Take no further pains,
For I have passed beyond the need thereof.
Resign the world to its Creator — Him
Who manifested forth His works. The heavens
Will pass away, but God abide th ever
To guide both thee and me to what is good."
He slept that night, and early in the morn
A countless crowd resorted to his court.
They brought together all that were required,
And young prince Yazdagird approached the Shah,
Who gave him in the presence of the lords
The crown and bracelets, torque and ivory throne.
Intending to devote himself to God
He cast away the crown, he left his seat,
And hasted to resign the world's affairs.
At night -fall he was eager for repose,
And, when the sun displayed its head above
The deep, fear filled his archimage's heart,
Who thought : " The Shah ariseth not from sleep
Unless he hath withdrawn him from the lords."
0. 1587 Then Yazdagird drew near his sire and spied
What froze the breath upon his lips — Bahrain
With faded cheeks lay dead on gold brocade !
The day of gloom is as it was of yore,
Sear not thy heart with greed and lust of more.
BAHRAM GUR 151
At death the cores of stones and iron quail,
v And here thy strivings are of no avail.
Thou shouldst be inoffensive and humane ;
Why seek addition with its biting bane ?
Woe for that great Shah and his equity !
Oh ! never derogate his memory.
Of fifty nionarchs of seed royal sown,
Wh<> girt their loins upon the Iranian throne,
Bahrain Gur had no like in eminence,
In justice, puissance, and excellence.
Thou wouldst have called king Rustam but vizir
To him though Rustam sent his arrows sheer
Through mounts of iron, yet was there no delay
When Shah Bahrain GUT'S term had passed away.
What profit had he from his valour's day ?
For forty days the Shah bewailed his sire,
The host wore raiment black and blue, and when
Tin- charnel closed o'er that famed warrior Shah
" He bore off bounty," thou hadst said, " with him."
Sun. moon, and Venus, Saturn, crown, and throne,
A Shah, like this one, ne'er will look upon.
Woe for that royal mien, that height, and Grace !
Woe for that lofty star, that hand, and mace !
He decked the throne and crown, from Rum and Chin
Took toll and tax, yet passed as he had been
'• starving mendicant ! When all was done
What profited his halls aloft the sun ?
He and the pauper fare the selfsame path,
And each of grief and pain a scantling hath.
dear delights of earth, the sovereign sway,
What boot they ? Soon thy rule will pass away.
Blest is the pious mendicant and wise,
Whose ears oft 1W1 the world's rough pleasantries,
ttlien he passeth. he will leave behind
A good name and a good conclusion find.
His portion is in heaven, and in God's sight
1 52 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
He will have honour, not be in my plight.
In miserable case, calamitous,
With all that I possess sent Hell-ward thus
Beyond recall ! No hope in heaven I see,
My hand is void, both worlds have ruined me !
Now, if I can collect my thoughts again,
The rule of Yazdagird shall be my strain.
XXXVI
YAZDAGIRD SON OF BAHRAM GUR
HE REIGNED EIGHTEEN YEARS
NOTE
The length of the reign of this Shah (Isdi-erd II, A.D. 438-457),
as given by Firdausf, appears to be about correct. From the point
of view of popular tradition he seems wholly to have been over-
shadowed by his famous father, and his reign consequently is all
but a blank in the Shalmama. Historically it was full of incident,
and Firdausi's statement—
" He sent out countless hosts on every side,
And kept the world secure from enemies,"
though it may be only a conventional statement, is correct enough.
He began his reign with a war with Rum. This was soon over,
but was followed by long wars with the Huns and tin- Haitaliana.
Within tin- empire there were persecutions of the Jews and
Christians, and about A.D. 450 serious trouble in Armenia.
Yazdagird, as we have seen,1 continued his father's minister, Mi In
Narsi, in power. According to Mas'udi he fortified the passes in
the Caucasus.* He was known to his subjects by two titles —
"The Clement"8 and " The soldier's friend." 4
Of the two sons of Yazdaginl it is not certain historically which was
••Mer, but as Piruz was successful in the struggle for the tl.:
that followed on the death of his father, he in any case would have
been made out to be the elder in order to regularise the succession,
and the elder he is according to all the Oriental authorities, In
•itf lii.s coins he ignored the short reign of his brother Hurmuz.4
> See p. J MM. ii. 193. Cf. V-1. i. |>|> 16 and note.
3 ZT, H. p. 127. ' l:M I i .W3. * NT, p. 426.
'53
154 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
§ I
How Yazdagird sat upon the Throne and exhorted the
Captains of the Host
C. 1588 When Yazdagird became the world's great king
He gathered unto him the scattered troops.
There was a conclave of the wise and noble,
The great men and the princely archimages.
The atheling sat on the golden throne,
He shut the door of toil, the hand of evil,
And thus began : " He that committeth not
A wrong is not in danger of the avenger,
But when a heart is darkening with envy
The Div will be called in to medicine it,
For envy causeth greed and grief and want,
And is a cruel and revengeful div.
Impute not to a foeman's heart and hand
That which displeaseth thee. Humanity
Is wisdom's brother. Wisdom is the crown
Upon the head of knowledge. What time thou
Conferrest benefits on any one
Din it not into him and break his heart.
If thou dost good and art longsuffering
Thou art not worthless in a wise man's eyes.
If now victorious fortune shall assist me
In furthering my wishes in the world
I will prepare a roll of righteousness
Without an entry of deceit or wrong."
He ruled the world in justice for a while ;
The age rejoiced in him and he rejoiced.
He sent forth countless hosts on every side,
And kept the world secure from enemies.
When eighteen years had passed above his head,
He grieved because his fortune was bedimmed,
Convoked to him the magnates and the sages,
YAZDAGIRD SON OF SAHR^M G&R 155
Caused them to kneel before the golden thri
And thus addressed tin m : " This untoward sky,
loiowing fosterling and fosterer,
And heeding not the crowns of potentates,
Pursueth every quarry in its path :
So now my time is drawing to its close,
And all my strength is broken. I bestow
The crown, the signet-ring, the host, and all
The tivuMiivs of Iran upon Hurmuz ;
Pay due observance, execute my bidding.
And make my will the music of your souls.
Although Piruz hath Grace divine and stature,
And is the elder brother of Hurmuz ;
see 1 in Hurmuz deliberation,
With wisdom, modesty, and aptitude."
H -pake and lived a se'nnight afterwards ; C. 1589
pa— rd . tin- throne wept over him awhile.
Be thy years t \\ n<t v-five, be they five score,
Soon will this licet ing show be thine no more,
Regard then as a transitory thing
Whatever falleth to thy reckoning.
XXXVII
HUKMUZ
HE REIGNED ONE YEAR
NOTE
The earliest coins of Piruz date from his third year as he
reckoned it, counting from his father's death, so the reign of
Hurniuz (Hormisdas, A.D. 457-459) lasted about two years.1
Hurmuz probably had the advantage of being on the spot at the
time of Yazdagird's death, but Piruz may have had the better
right to the throne,2 and seems to have owed much to the services
of a leader named Ruhham — a scion of the great Mihrdn clan
which was of Arsacid descent.3 The name is a familiar one to
students of the Shdhnama as that of one of those secondary heroes
many of whom— real personages in the Parthian epoch — have been
reflected back to the mythical periods of the poem.4 Ruhluim, as
we have seen, was one of the Twelve (eleven) Champions.5
Whether Piruz also received formal help from the Haitalians is
doubtful, but plenty of nomad tribes would be willing to take
service with him for a consideration, and if they happened to be
within the Haitalian sphere of influence would be regarded as
Haitalians themselves by tradition. For the consideration required
in the text Tabari substitutes Talikan.8 This is much more
probable. Tirmid is mentioned because it would represent the
traditional notion of the Oxus being the boundary between Iran
and Turin. On the other hand settlements in the desert, such as
Talikan, were valuable both for trade and in war.7 Firdausi's
statement that Piruz pardoned Hurmuz is supported by Dinawari
and Mir Khand, but two out of the three accounts in Tabari say
that Hurmuz was put to death. The third says that he was
imprisoned. In all probability he was executed.8
1 NT, p. 426. 2 See p. 153. 3 NT, pp. 114, 139 and notes.
* See Vol. iii. p. 9. 5 See Vol. iv. p. 102. 6 NT, p. 1 16 seq. and notes.
7 Id. * Id. 117 seq. and notes, RM, I, ii. 364.
156
HUKUL"/. 157
§ I
How Hurmuz, Son of Yazdagird, ascended the Throne
Hurmuz succeeded to his father's throne,
And set upon his head the crown of gold,
While, thou hadst said, Piruz was all one rage
With tears of envy mounting to his eyes.
A-ent incontinent with troops and treasures,
And many chiefs, to the Haitalian king,
Who was a princeling of Chaghan, a man
Of high ambition and possessed of troops,
Of treasure, and of power, hight Faghanish.
To him Piruz said : " O good friend of mine !
Two sons were we — the glories of the throne.
Our father gave the younger of us twain
The royal crown and, having acted thus
Unjustly, died. If thou wilt give me troops
I have myself wealth, weapons, majesty,
And might of hand."
The monarch of Chaghan
Replied : 4 ; 'Tis well, thy sire was king himself.
1 11 point out the way to get thy rights,
And furnish thee with troops upon these terms :
That 1 >hall have Tirmid and Wisagird,
To which effect I hold a covenant
From Yazdagird."
Piruz said : " Yea, 'tis well,
And thou deservest greater sovereignty."
The monarch gave him thirty t housand swordsmen —
A noble army of Hait&lians —
\Vlinvwith Piruz, the Shah, arrayed a host
t darkened sky and moon with Hying dust.
He fought wit li king Hurmuz who could not long
lure the stress of war but present 1\
\\ and his father's crown and throne
158 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSf
Grew worthless to him. When Piruz beheld
His brother's face he yearned for love and union,
Bade him remount and sped to grasp his hand,
Dispatched him to the palace and declared
His own conditions. Said Hurmuz to him : —
* Thank God that those who worship Him are wise.
My brother taketh from me crown and throne ;
Be victory both in name J and deed his own."
1 Pirftz means victorious.
XXXVIII
PIRUZ
HE REIGNED ELEVEN YEARS
ARGUMENT
Piri'iz becomes undisputed Shah. His inaugural speech. The
land is troubled by a severe drought which Piruz takes measures to
mitigate. The breaking of the drought Piruz builds cities and,
in violation of the treaty of Shah Bahrain Giir, makes war upon
the Haitalians, is defeated, and killed.
NOTE
The reign of Piruz (Perozes, AD. 459-484) lasted much longer
than eleven years, and seems to have made a deep impression on
the popular mind by reason of its accumulation of mishaps. The
expedition against tin- Haitalians was preceded by a few months by
a total eclipse of the sun '—a portent of disaster that well may have
helped to bring about its own fulfilment. Mir Kh;ind tells us that
this Shah's sobriquet was " The Valiant." *
A relic of Piruz — a cup engrav,.! with a representation of that
Shah engaged in hunting — is said to be still in existence.8
§ i. Drought is common enough in Inin, and the record shows
that this particular one must have been of exceptional severity.
According toTabari tin res adopted by Piruz to cope
with the emergency were so efficient that only one man perished
through want.4 Tabari of course is merely giving the statements
of his authorities without « mi:
§§ 2-4. According to the account in Tabari, Pirn/, built three
••< — Ram-1' /.-Ram of Firdausf) in the territory of
MI Saturday, January l-lfli. LI -IM. NT. |> i
» RSM. |. I. pp. !!'.». 122.
'59
160 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Rai, another called Rushan Piriiz, and a tliinl named Shahram-
Piruz (Firdausi's Badan Pint/) in A/arh;iijun.1
The tradition given in the Shalmama of the war between Pin'iz
and tlie Haitalians is dominated by the memory of the beloved and
popular Bahrain Gur. We have seen how that Shah, after his
triumphant campaign against that people, set up a pillar that was
to mark the boundary between them and the Iranians.2 The pre-
sumption in the poem is that the arrangement then made continued
in force till Piriiz refused to be bound by it any longer. His refusal
brought death upon himself and disaster on his host. Clearly this
was a judgment upon him for violating the treaty made by his
grandfather. Naturally if Piriiz had been successful a different
popular estimate would have been formed upon his conduct, but as
matters turned out he was manifestly a wrong-doer for having left
his grandsire's way and he merely got his deserts. Consequently
on this occasion right was on the side of the enemy, and for a time
the tradition becomes almost pro-Haittilian. Between the memory
of a great popular Shah and the occurrence of a great national disaster
practically nothing remained, and the two are linked together as
cause and effect. Historically, as we know from other sources, the
case was very different. Bahram Gur's son and successor, Yazdagird,
had plenty of trouble with the Haitalians,3 and so had, it would
seem, Piruz himself before the final disaster overtook him. Once,
if not twice, he had been forced to conclude an unfavourable peace
with them, had found himself in their power, and his son, Kubad,
had on one occasion to remain two years in captivity until a heavy
ransom had been paid. If the story of the help given by the
Haitalians to Piriiz against his brother, Hurmuz, at the price of the
cession of Talikan be unhistorical it was probably at one of these
conclusions of peace that the place was ceded.4 Popular tradition
may have preferred to represent Talikan as being yielded to secure
the throne for the rightful heir rather than as the consideration
for a disgraceful treaty later on. Pin'iz violated his own compact,
not Bahram's, and perished in consequence. There are three
accounts of the disaster in Tabari. They are in accord in essentials,
and two of them attribute the proximate cause of the overthrow of
Piruz to the trench dug by the Haitalian king who in these accounts
is called Achshunwar or Akhshunwar approximately, but in the
absence of diacritical and vowel points the precise form is uncer-
tain. According to one account it was the evil practices of the
1 NT, p. 123. 2 p. 92. 3 p. 153.
4 pp. 156, 157, NT, p. 119, note.
PIRUZ 161
ian king that impelled Pin'iz to declare war, and four sons
and four brothers perished with him.1 The second, which comes
from Ibn Mukaffa,* states that there were two campaigns. In the
first of them Piruz was led astray by an Haitalian chief, who had
had himself purposely mutilated in order to deceive the Shah, and
forced to sue for peace. Subsequently wounded honour induced
him to tear up the treaty and renew the struggle in spite of the
advice of his counsellors; he perished, and his baggage, women,
money, and papers fell into the hands of the enemy.8 In the
third account mention is made of Bahrain Cur's pillar, and Pirn/.
is said to have had it thrown down and dragged in front of him
by titty elephants and three hundred men that he might not be
charged with passing it. This account also states that a daughter
of Piruz was among the captives taken by the Haitalians. Their
king put her into his haram, and she had a daughter who afterwards
married her unelr Kubful.4 There can be no doubt but that a
terrible disaster befell the Iranian arms in this campaign and, as
we shall see presently,5 the memory of it was reflected back upon
the mythical past and the story retold in connexion with the
overthrow of a Pishdudian Shah.
§ i
How Piruz sat upon the Throne and made an Oration
I'iruz, at ease about Hurmuz and free Ct I590
From care, came, sat upon the royal throne,
As well became a Shah that worshipped God,
And at the outset thus harangued the chiefs : —
" Ye worshipful and noble lords ! I ask
The Judge that needeth naught to grant to me
Long life, a due regard for great and small
As their conditions are, abundant wisdom.
And happy days. Longsuffering is the crown
Upon humanity ; t lie hasty man
i in abasement Wisdom's pillars
1 NT. P. 120.
« For whom see Vol. M. ,.. 17 NT. , 121, nofc. »/ p I J : «?.
4 /'/. |>. 128 seq. and nofe«. • p. 171.
VII. L
162 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Are equity and mercy, its adornment
Is bounty's gate, the tongue of eloquence
Its glory, while its plumes are hardihood
And fortitude. How shall mere high estate,
If wisdom fail, enjoy the throne of greatness ?
E'en sages are but mortal and possess not
More Grace than had Jamshid who died, what time
His crown had reached the moon, and gave another
His royal seat. None can abide on earth
For aye. Take refuge then with God from ill,
And all is said."
Wise and untouched by evil
He ruled one year with justice and good counsel.
Next year the face of heaven was dry, the water
Shrank in the streams till it became like musk.
The third and fourth year it was even so,
And all men were in misery through the drought ;
The mouth of heaven became as dry as dust,
And river-water was a precious drug ;
There was no room to stand, such multitudes
Of men and beasts lay dead. The king of kings
Beheld that portent, took off tax and toll,
And in each city where he kept his stores
Bestowed them freely on both small and great.
A proclamation issued from the court : —
" Distribute, 0 ye men of name and might !
Such grain as ye possess and heap instead
Your treasuries with coins struck by Piruz.
Whoe'er possesseth hoarded stores of grain,
Or sheep or oxen roaming at their will,
Let him dispose thereof at his own price,
For lives are perishing for lack of food."
C. 1591 He sent another letter in all haste
To every officer and potentate : —
" Ope wide your barns to all folk everywhere
That are in need. Should young or old and feeble
PIRUZ 163
Die lacking bread — a victim to the famine —
I will pour out his blood that hath the barn,
For he hath scorned God's work. His waist will I
Cleave with the trenchant scimitar and wreck
His life."
He ordered folk to quit their homes,
And coming plainwards lift their hands in plaint.
A cry of bitter weeping and distress,
Of pain and consternation rose to heaven ;
On hill and waste, in desert and in cave,
They called on God for mercy. On this wise
For seven years both small and great beheld
X • verdure anywhere. With Farwardin,
The eighth year, rose a glorious cloud which rained
Pearls on the parched up soil. The scent of musk
Rose from the gardens while the hail that fell
Lay in the mud like pears within a bowl ;
The rainbow was resplendent in the sky,
The age escaped the ill of evil men,
And everywhere the bow was strung again.
§ 2
How Piruz built the Cities of Piruz-Rdm and Bdddn-Pmiz,
and how he went to war with Turdn
Now when Piruz had 'scaped that day of stress
He sat in peace upon the t hrone of kingship,1
HI- Iniilt liiniH-lf a city which ho bade
Call Piruz-Ram, the wnrld hath good the:
For 'tis the pleasance of the glorious Shahs.
II.- l.uilt \\ithal Badan-l'in'i/., far-famed,
A place of peace and joy, now Ardabil,
Win -re Cflesar hath of ri^ht his boundary.
1 The previous section ends h
164 THE SHAHNAMA OF F1RDAUSI
Whenas Piruz had prospered all these parts,
And made thereby the hearts of wise men glad,
He gave a largess to his noble troops,
And gat him ready to attack the Turkmans.
In that campaign Hurmuz was in the van
With troops new -levied ; after Shah Piruz
Kubad led l on the army like a blast ;
Piruz' pure son was he, wise, and a bough
That brought forth fruit. Balash, the younger son,2
A man of Grace and justice, sat rejoicing
C. 1592 Upon the throne while one of Pars, a man
Of high renown called by the king Sarkhan,3
Was bidden by Piruz : ' ' Abide thou here
As upright minister before Balash." 4
Pii'uz set forward with his troops, his treasure,
And gear of war, to fight with Khushnawaz.
Now brave Bahrain had marked the boundary
By setting up a column on the plain
With this inscription by the king of kings : —
" Let not a Turkman or Iranian
Transgress this boundary on any wise,
Or pass across the river."
When Piruz,
The lion-queller, reached that spot he saw
The mark set by the monarch of Iran,
And thus addressed his chiefs : " By this same token
Will I erect with scimitar and treasure
A tower against the Turkmans so that none
May suffer from the Haitalians. When 'tis raised
On the Tarak, and when their chiefs shall bring
The former treaty, I will say : ' Bahrain Gur
Did thus by manhood, wisdom, might, and Grace,
But I will leave no trace of Khushnawaz,
Haitalian or Turkman, high or low.' '
i Reading with P. 2 Cf. p. 170.
3 Stifarai, for whom see pp. 170, 173 seq., 185. 4 Couplet omitted.
PIRl'Z 165
When Khushnawaz, son of the Khan, had heard : —
" The Shah and all his host have crossed Jihun
nst the treaty that Bahrain Gur made :
h war and strife have come upon the land,"
A vi-teran scribe was called by his command.
§3
The Letter of Khushnawaz to Piruz
He wrote a letter to the king of earth.
With l praises of him from the righteous Judge,
Then said : " Since thou departest from the pact
Made by just kings I will not call thee royal.
Thine ancestors had acted never so,
Those rulers of the world elect and pure.
By breaking thus the compact of the Persians,
And flinging to the du>t the mark of greatness,2
Thou forcest me to break the treaty also,
And draw the scimitar in self-defence."
He wrote at large and sent too many gifts.
A noble cavalier and eloquent
\\ -lit with tin- letter which when Shah Piruz
Had read he raged against that famous priii
And bade the envoy : " Rise and get thee gone,
Return to that base man and say to him : —
* Bahrain concluded terms of peace whereby c. 1593
The country was your own to the Tarak,
But now thou hast the whole to the Jihun,
1 1 ill. dale, and desert, all alike are thine.
'd ! I lead a vast, a noble host,
Aid warriors bent on fight, and I will leave not
long on earth the shade of Khu>hnawaz.' '
ading with P.
* " la marque de lafrontiire Itablie par Jcs grands " (Mohl).
166 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
The envoy came like flying dust and told
What he had heard . When Khushnawaz had hearkened
Thereto, and read what had been writ to him,
He called his scattered followers to horse,
Led forth the army to the battlefield,
And set upon a lance's point the treaty
Accorded to his grandsire by Bahrain
To this effect : " Our frontier is Jihun."
He chose a man of mark among the troops —
One who was shrewd of heart and eloquent—
And said : " Approach Piruz with courteous words,
Hear his reply, and say : ' I will confront thee
Upon the march with thine own grandsire 's treaty —
That man of lofty fortune, thine own guide —
Set on a spearhead like a shining sun
Before the host that all possessed of wisdom
May look upon the patent of the just.
I shall be praised while thou wilt be condemned,
And called " The impious Shah." God and his wor-
shippers,
And subjects everywhere, will not approve
That any one should seek to do injustice,
And break the treaties of the kings of kings.
None like to Shah Bahrain for equity
And manhood e'er set crown upon his head.
God is my witness, and it is not well
To have to make appeal to Him, that thou
Art with injustice seeking war with me
In falling thus upon me with thy host.
Herein thou wilt be not victorious,
And likewise get no fruitage from good fortune.
Henceforward I shall send no messengers :
God will avail to aid me in this fight.' '
The envoy came dust-swift with this dispatch,1
And to Piruz repeated all these words.
1 We have not been told that Khtishnawdz wrote one.
PIRUZ 167
When that haught Shah had read what Khushnawaz
Had written in the letter hi- was wroth,
And said thus to the envoy : " One of years
And wo rid -experience would speak not like that ;
But if from Chach thou comest oVr the river
My spearheads are prepared to welcome thee."
The messenger returned to Khushnawaz,
Spake with him privily at large, and said : —
" I see not in Piruz a reverence
For God ; he hath not wisdom for his guide ;
He caret h only for revenge and strife,
And walkrth not according to God's will."
When Khushnawaz had heard these words he sought c. 1594
To God for shelter, making supplication,
And saying : " O Thou Judge that judgest right,
And art the Master both of wind and du^t !
Thou knowest that iniquitous Piruz
Is not iii prowess better than Bahram.
He speaketh words unjust and fain would win
Addition by the scimitar. Break Thou
1 1 - foot -hold from the earth. Oh ! may he have
No strength, no wit, no heart ! "
Around his host l
He dug a trench which he made shift to hid-
T was lasso -deep and twenty culms wide.
§4
// /' </••- fought with Khushnawdz and was slain
This done, he called on God and marched his powers
From Samarkand. On that side Shah Piruz,
The ham i< . l<-d \\\^ troops on like a blast ;
his side Khu>hi!a\\a/ \\ith tearful heart
1 i.e. where he intended to make hia stand.
168 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
"Prayed privily before the holy Judge.
The drums and trumpets sounded in both hosts,
The air was ebon with the armies' dust,
And from them both such showers of arrows rained
That blood ran down like water in a stream.
Then, like a dust-cloud, Shah Piruz advanced
With mace and Human helm, and as he drew
Anear to Khushnawaz,1 the Turkmans' chief
Retreated, turned his rein, and showed his back.
The foeman followed fiercely. Shah Piruz
Spurred forward with few followers and fell
With others — chiefs and Lions of the day
Of battle — in the fosse, such as Hurmuz
His brother, glorious Kubad and others —
Great men and princes of the royal race-
Till seven had fallen headlong, men of name
With golden casques. Then Khushnawaz returned
Rejoicing to the fosse and lifted thence
The living while the throne bewailed their fortune.
Now Shah Piruz, that chief of chiefs endowed
With Grace and state, had broken head and back,
While of the princes, save Kubad, none lived :
Thus host and empire went adown the wind.
Then Khushnawaz advanced with heart content,
And head exalted with his warrior-host,
And gave to spoil the baggage and the foe,
For right and left were indistinguishable.
They made some prisoners and what numbers more
Were stretched by arrows on the sombre soil !
1595 'Tis not for wo rid -lords to be covetous,
For hearts that covet are the dark dust's mate ;
The never -resting sky ordaineth thus
Alike for subjects and for king's estate,
And wringeth its own fosterling, be he
A fool or wisdom's pillar. None can stay
1 The sentence thus far has been translated from P.
P1RUZ 169
Upon this earth of ours eternally.
Make right thy provand : naught is left to say.
When Khushnawaz had crossed the fosse his troops
Lacked not for wealth. They bound Kubacl with
fetters
Of iron, heedless of his throne and race.
When tidings reached the people of Iran
About the fosse and how Piruz had fought ,
A wail of anguish went up from the land
For all those princes — men of high degree —
And when the tidings had been certified
Balash descended from his golden seat,
Plucked out his royal locks and strewed sad dust
Upon the throne. Within Iran the host,
The cities and the women, men, and children,
All wailed, all rent the hair and tore the face
For grief, talked of the Shah and yearned for him ;
All sat in dole and woe while great and small
Took thought what course to choose and wlu'tlu-r they
Should quit tan and see where fell the fray ?
XXXIX
BALASH
HE REIGNED FIVE YEARS AND TWO MONTHS
ARGUMENT
Balash becomes Shah. Sufarai leads forth a host against the
Haitalians to avenge the death of Piruz and defeats them. Terms
of peace are arranged, Kubad and the other captives are released,
and Sufarai returns with them in triumph to Iran. After some
years Sufarai dethrones Balash and makes Kubad Shah.
NOTE
Balash (Balas, A.D. 484-488) seems to have been the brother, not
the son, of Piruz and the uncle of Kubad.1 The name is identical
with the more familiar Vologeses. Balash being on the spot and
regent at the time of the death of Piruz naturally became Shah.
Tabari says that he had to fight for the throne with his brother
(really his nephew), Kubad, who fled to the Haitalians. The real
struggle however appears to have been with Kubad's brother, Zirih,
who was defeated and slain.2
§§ 2 and 3. Piruz having expiated by his own death his violation
of the treaty made by his grandfather, Shah Bahrain Giir, with the
Haitalians, popular tradition is at liberty to resume a patriotic
attitude and set forth how Piruz was avenged and Iranidn honour
vindicated. Unfortunately the account does not appear in the
oldest authorities and seems to be unhistorical. Iran at that time
was much oppressed by, if not actually tributary to, the Haitalians.3
Sufarai's triumphant campaign seems to have been invented as a
salve to the national honour and, incidently, as a glorification of
1 NT, p. 133 note. 2 Id.
3 Id. 119 note. That the scene of Stifarai's victory should be laid
at Kashmihan, where Bahrain Gur had triumphed, is in itself sus-
picious. See pp. 89, 90.
170
BALASH 171
the great family of Karan to which he belonged. The story of
his success appears, as Noldeke has pointed out, to have been
reflected hack into mythical times and told in connexion with
Naudar, the Pishdtidian Shah. Certainly the parallel is very
complete. In both cases iian host is overthrown by a
Northern foe ; in both the Shah perishes ; in both the scene is laid
in the same neighbourhood ; in both the defeat is avenged by a
, and in both cases the prisoners are rescued.1 In Tabari's
t Sufarai apj>ears as SukhnL' As a leading Iranian of the
time he may have been instrumental in bringing about a peace
with the Haitiilians after the death of Piruz, and this perhaps may
be regarded as the historical measure of his achievement.3
Bahish appears to have been somewhat after the type of
Yazdagird, son of Shapur, in character,4 mild and tolerant,
approved hy the Christians and hated by the Magi who, it is
said, were scandalised at his attempt to introduce the Roman
fashion of public baths, which of course involved a profanation of
the sacred element. As his treasury was exhausted he was unable
to look to the army for support, and after a reign of four years was
dethroned and blinded. According to other accounts he died
a natural death.5 Mir Kluind says that he was known as
"the beloved."*
§ I
How Balash ascended the Throne and harangued the Iranians
\Vh< 'iia- I-Jahi^h had mourned one ni< ntli. with <
Upon his head and lacerated cheeks,
l>eople and the high priest came to him
With valiant warriors and famous sages.
They spake with him at large by way of coun^-l
In profitable words, then seated him
th' throne of kingship, showering gold
jewels over him abundant 1\ .
Whrn seated on the thmnr ho >:iul : " <) rhi-
Acquire the secrets of the sages' hearts,
1 6< 345 «<?., and NIN, p. 0. * NT, p. 120 note.
. and RSM, p. 332.
i >d note*-, RSM, p. 336 and note.
• KM 1" I. \ . 171,
172 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
And ye shall have advancement at my hands
When my dark counsels brighten. Frustrate not
The purpose of well-doers in the world.
As for the wicked and malicious man,
He shall not partner me, but first will I
Enrich him with advice and, if that faileth,
C. 1596 Crown him with blood. When any subject plaineth
To us 'gainst some one of this loyal host
The heart of the unjust one will I break,
And rase him utterly, both root and branch.
See that ye take no freedoms with your Shah,
And in especial one that is devout,
For he by turns is bane and antidote ;
So choose the antidote and leave the bane.
Of all things seek to please the Shah and never
Approach his throne unless with joyful looks.
When he is wroth excuse thyself and bless him,
Just or unjust. Whene'er thou sayest : ' I
Am wise, and I am mighty in all knowledge,'
Know that thou never wast more ignorant,
So be not thine own enemy. If now
Ye shall obey the counsel that I give
By hearkening to my profitable words,
Ye shall receive the treasures of wise Shahs :
I never yet saw knowledge injure any."
The chieftains marvelled at his understanding,
And called down praises on him, while the troops
Spake thus to one another : " From this Shah
Will fall a lustre on the throne and crown.
God grant that he escape the evil eye,
And ill befall the persons of his foes."
They went forth from his palace well content,
Committing to God's care his soul and body.
Their hearts were full of love, their tongues of praise :•
" May such a Shah have endless length of days."
BALASH ^ 173
§ 2
Sufarai had Tidings of the Slaying of Piruz, how he wrote
a Letter to Khushnawdz, and how Khushnawdz replied
What time Piruz was going to the war
He sought a paladin — a man of counsel
Ami Wright — to watch o'er crown and throne, and U
A friend to young Balash. Now Sufarai —
A man of great estate and good withal —
Was fitted for that task, experienced.
A native of Shiraz, a general,
A man exalted both in heart and head,
And likewise marchlord in Zabulistan,
Kalmlistan. Ghaznin, and Bust. When tidings
About Piruz, uncounselled and unguided,
Came his eye-lashes drenched his cheeks with tears,
nt his raiment of a paladin,
Tin- warriors doffed their helmets and sat mourning
Through sorrow for the Shah, while Sufarai
Exclaimed : " How shall Balash, youth that he is,
S. « k vengeance for Piruz ? " for well he knew
That that would naught avail and that the throne C. 1597
Of kingship was in evil case. He gathered
Hi- scattered soldiers, beat the kettledrums,
And dust rose from the plain. There came to him
A hundred thousand warlike, vengeful swordsmen.
He paid, equipped the host, and joyed the hearts
Of all that sought for vengeance. Then he called
A sweet-ton pi H-d envoy watchful, wise, and shiv\\d.
And, seared and sorry, wan and weeping, wrote
A Irtter of wise counsels, instancing
Jamshid and Kai Khusrau and Kai Kubad,
patched it to Balash, and said : " 0 Shah !
Be not aggrieved at death ; it is a grief
That all must taste ; choose patience and choose fame.
174 THE SHAHNAMA OF F1RDAUSI
What caine from wind returneth with the breath
Some call it justice and some tyranny.
Now with the approbation of the king
Will I make ready for revenge and strife
Because the sun and moon cry out in heaven
For vengeance for the blood of Shah Piruz."
With that the envoy went upon his way,
And Sufarai, all wreakful, for his part
Arrayed his army like a pheasant's plumes,1
And from Zabulistan advanced toward Marv.
He chose him out a wary messenger,
Who by his words could mollify the heart,
And spake on this wise to a scribe : " Arise,
Because thy pen hath stirring work to do,
Indite to Khushnawaz and say : ' 0 fool,
And knavish doer of the work of divs !
Thou art in God's sight guilty, and thy shirt
Shall wail for thee. Whoe'er did deed like thine,
Thou faithless one ? Thou shalt behold anon
The sword of tribulation. Thou hast slain
A man without offence — the king of kings,
The grandson of the world-lord Shah Bahrain —
And hast set up a new feud in the world,
A feud to be forgotten nevermore.
Why, when the din of tymbals rose, didst thou
Not come and fawn upon him like a dog ?
Thy grandsire was a poor man of thy tribe,
Thy sire was like a slave before Bahrain.
Lo ! I have come to Marv to seek revenge,
And I will waste the Haitalians utterly.
The captives and whatever booty came
Within thy grasp upon that battlefield,
I will exact all with the sword of vengeance,
And bear to Marv Turan's dust, suffer not
The world to be thy son's, burn all thy kith
i Cf. p. 88, note.
BALASH 175
And kin, cut off thy head by God's command,
: make thy kingdom like a sea of blood.
But tli is is not revenge ; why talk I long ? C. 1598
When Khushnawaz, in that he slew Piruz,
Shall rot in darksome dust his soul shall plead
HJs cause from Hell.' '
The envoy with the letter
Of Sufarai went like a mighty lion,
Came in an angry mood to Khushnaua/..
Appeared before his throne, did reverence,
And gave the letter, while the captains present
Withdrew. The monarch gave it to a scribe,
And said : " Read out to me in confidence
Both good and ill."
The scribe thus answered him : —
" This letter is all arrow, mace, and sword,"
And sorely grieved was valiant KhushnaA\ a/.
At that long letter writ by Sufarai,
Then set himself without delay to answer
The good and ill there written and began :—
" I live hi fear of God and fortune's changes.
A worshipper of His would not have broken
The compact of the Shahs. I sent Piruz
A letter of advice besid< s the treaty
Of that great king,1 but he despised my words,
And spurned the old king's pact. When he assailed me,
I put me to a shift . and when the h<
face to face, the stars raged at Piruz,
And by no will of ours thy Shah was slain .
Or e'er he broke the pact of righteous Shahs
youth had not another day of joy ;
II- found 2 no favour in ihe Maker's eyes;
Thmi wnuldst have said: 'Earth took him by the
heel/ 8
» Bahrdm Gdr. See p. 166. « Heading with P.
ot in the original.
176 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
The man that breaketh his forefather's treaty,
And flingeth underfoot the head of right,
Is like Piruz upon the battlefield,
Pashed in a dusty ditch. So shalt thou be
If thou shalt come ; my wealth and warriors fail not."
Depart ing with the letter and apace
The envoy in a week reached Sufarai,
Who read and loosed his tongue in malisons.
Then from the plain the people heard the blare
Of trumpets and the clash of brazen cymbals,
And Sufarai led forth to Kashmihan
A host so great that Sol was lost in heaven.
'Twas thus they crossed the stream — an armament
That made itself at home where'er it went.
§3
How Sufarai fought with Khushnawdz, and how Kubdd
was released from his Bondage
C. 1599 When tidings came to Khushnawaz he marched
Out to the desert and prepared for war.
He reached Baigand and chose a battlefield
That hid the wilderness from circling heaven
With troops.
On his side vengeful Sufarai
Came onward like a blast. When it was night
That leader of the army occupied
All the approaches with fresh elephants.
The outposts went their rounds in both the hosts,
The world resounded with the warriors' shouts,
The challenge of the sentries and the clang
Of bells rose from both armies, front and rear,
Till Sol rose o'er the peaks and made the dales
And deserts like white crystal. Both arrays
Prepared for strife ; each raised the flag of greatness.
BALASH 177
Then dragons' livers sundered at the shouting
Of valiant warriors while feathered shafts
Made air all vultures' plumes, and earth became
A bath of chieftains' blood. Where'er one gazed
I. heaps of warriors slain. Tncn Sufarai
lfh urged from the centre with his troops amain.
While Khushnawaz on his side with his sword
Of vengeance spurred down from his vantage-ground ;
But when he saw that fortune proved unkind
II- urned his rein and showed his back, pursued
By Sufarai as 'twere a raging blast,
Who followed with a head-transfixing spear.
He captured many nobles ; many more
Were slain by arrow and by scimitar.
He sped till he reached Kuhandizh and saw
No lack of slain and wounded on the way.
Then from the ramparts Khushnawaz beheld
Efifl troops spread o'er the desert's hills and dales ;
The way was strewn with dead and things of price
So that the plain was decked out like a garden.
The soldiers carried off to Sufarai
The harness, lances, coronets of state,
The battle-gear, the girdles, steeds, and slave-.
And made a heap as high as Mount Alburz.
H< paid no heed to all that Turkman spoil,
But gave the whole in largess to his troops,
Aid thus harangued the host : " To-day's affair
Hath prospered for us to our hearts' content
Through fortune's favour, but what time the sun
Shall lift it> hand in heaven we must not bide
Inactive <>n thr plain hut march like lions C. 1600
Upon yon hold to avenge the king of kings."
Hi- t loops agreed and each man spake his mind.
Thus fared it with them t ill in arching heaven
Tin- sun's resplendent diadem appeared,
Whereat the tymbals sounded in the camp,
VOL. \ II. M
l?8 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And Sufarai bestrode his steed. An envoy
Reached that proud chief from Khushnawaz to say : —
" From battle, strife, and bloodshed naught result eth
But travail and contention. Shall we then,
Who are two men of wisdom, young, and brave,
Send both our souls to Hell ? If thou wilt seek
Again the way of wisdom thou shalt learn
That all that happened was the work of God.
It was not through the blast that Shah Piruz
Was slain but rather that the stars foreclosed
For him his years and months. He was to blame
For breach of pact, for choosing colocynth,
And spurning honey. Now what was to be
Hath come upon our heads. Blest is the man
That walketh not the round of violence.
The captives and whatever spoil there was,
The gold, the silver, and the uncut gems,
The steeds, the weapons, and the crowns and thrones,
Left by Piruz when fortune quitted him,
Both his own treasures and his troops' as well,
Will I send to the general of the Shah
That thou mayst go victorious to fran,
Mayst go back to the monarch of the brave.
I will not trespass on Iran ; do you,
For your part, keep the treaty of Bahram.
The king of kings apportioned earth aright :
Turan and Chin are ours, tan is thine."
When Sufarai had heard the embassage
He called the soldiers to his tent-enclosure,
And in their presence bade the messenger : —
" Repeat before the host the foeman's words."
He came and gave them, keeping nothing back.
Then Sufarai addressed his army thus : —
" What in your view should be our policy
Herein ? "
The troops replied : " 'Tis. thine to bid,
BALASH 179
And thine to stipulate the terms of peace.
knoweth better in fran than thou :
Thou art our king, our leader, and our lord."
Thus to his noble chiefs spake Sufarai : —
' The only policy for us to-day
Is this — to seek no more to fight with them.
I will lead bark the army to Iran
With speed, because Kubad,1 son of Piruz.
of the royal race, is in their hands
With the high priest Ardshir and army -leaders,
Both young and old. If we fight Khushnawa/
The matter will be long and profitless,
And the}r will slaughter their Iranian captives, C. 1601
Kubad, the world's heir, and Ardshir. Howbeit,
I'n less Kubad had been in jeopardy,
Ne'er had my heart and brain recalled to mind
The higli priest ; but if evil from the Turkmans
Befall Kubad tan will be all outcry,
And this shame current with our warriors
t'n til the Resurrection. We will give
A courteous answer to the messenger,
And take fair counsels in the cause of peace.
W<- then perchance may see Kubad again,
(God grant that no one else be king of kings !)
AnNhir the high priest and the other captives,
Both young and old."
His soldiers blessed him, saying : —
'That i- tin- treaty, precedent, and Faith
For us."
The paladin then called the envoy,
1ms addressed him with a dulcet tongue : —
" It was the act of God — enough ! This world
Designeth rvil and appriseth none.
The great mm <>t fran that have been taken
Art these — Kubad and the high priest Ardshfr.2
1 Kaikubdd in the original. * Reading with P.
i8o THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
These with the rest that have their feet in fetters
Dispatch to me in honourable fashion.
Moreover all the booty in your hands —
Dinars and crowns and wealth of every kind —
Dispatch in full to me, and let it come
In presence of the chieftains of this host.
We will not stretch our hands to spoil and slay
Because we have no need and worship God.
Within ten days we will recross Jihun,
And take no warlike step thenceforth. Give ear
To that which I have said and tell it all,
On thy return, to Khushnawaz."
The envoy
Returned forthwith to Khushnawaz in triumph,
And gave the message. Khushnawaz rejoiced,
And instantly released Kubad from bonds
With the high priest Ardshir and all the other
Iranian prisoners, collected all
The booty found upon the day of battle,
Besides the throne and crown of Shah Piruz,
And what was scattered 'mongst his troops, and sent
All by a trusty man to Sufarai.
Now when the soldiers looked upon Kubad
They joyed to see him, the high priest Ardshir,
And all the other captives young and old.
The mighty men came from their tents and all
Stretched out their hands to heaven in gratitude
That they beheld the king of kings' own son
Unhurt with all the rest that most they prized.
Forthwith the chief broke up the camp, took horse,
C. 1602 And glad and triumphing repassed Jihun
With that renowned high priest and with Kubad.1
When tidings reached the country of Iran
About that fort'unate and glorious chief,
About his war and strife with Khushnawaz,
1 See p. 179, note.
BALASH 181
And all his wonder-working policy :—
" He hath returned glad and victorious
From war, Kubad hath been released from fetters,
And Sufarai hath brought withal Ardshir,
Tin* high priest, and the Iranian prisoners ;
Ju^t now he crossed o'er the Jihun, his host
Is on the plains and mountains of Iran,"
Siu-h shouts ascended that thou wouldst have said : —
'They deafened those that heard." The prudent
magnates
Arose and gat themselves in readiness
To go forth with their welcome while Balash
Prepared a golden throne to seat Kubad,
And that chief paladin. When Sufarai
Arrived within the realm the great men all
Met . while the Shah prepared the welcoming,
Set forward with such forces as he had,
And when he saw Kubad released from bonds,
Glad and victorious, embraced him quickly
With joy and cursed the people of Haital
And Chin. They passed within the royal palace
With In -a Us still sore and eager for revenge.
Balash commanded and they spread the board,
And called for wine and harp and minstrelsy ;
But thero was little gladness at that feast
Through sorrow for magnanimous Piruz.
The singers lauded Sufarai and sang
Upon the harp the war against Turan.
ll«- was the Cynosure of all the chieftains,
<> entertained high hopes and joyed in him.
The country rallied to him, those at least
That longed to take revenge on Klm-lmawaz.
hearts of all the paladins rejoiced
ifarai ; they freed their souls from care.
Hi us was it till four years had passed away,
And he had not his equal in the world .
1 82 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
Naught happened but according to his will,
And what he would he did. Now when his word
Prevailed throughout the world he had Balash
Removed, albeit gently, from the throne,
And said to him : " Thou rulest not the realm ;
Thou knowest not the good men from the bad ;
Thou turnest all the empire to a jest
Through thy perversity and carelessness.
Kubad is wiser far than thou and hath
Much more authority within the realm."
Balash withdrew to his own house, for he
Dared not make answer : " Get thee gone," but said:
" This throne will vex not when I sit thereon ;
'Tis free from travail, pain, and malison."
XL
KUBAD SON OF PlRUZ
HE REIGNED FORTY-THREE YEARS
ARGUMENT
K '..id ascends the throne and harangues the chiefs. Sufarai
continues for a time at the head of affairs and then is disgraced and
executed. The Iranians revolt in consequence, hand Kubad over
: irai's son, Rizmihr, and make Kubad's brother, Jamasp,
Sh;ih. Rizmihr acts with extreme loyalty, protects Kubad, and
escapes with him to the Haittilians. On the way thither Kubad
marries a thane's daughter who becomes the mother of Kisra.
Provided with an army by the king of the Haitalians Kubad
regains the throne. He wars against Ruin, builds cities, and be-
comes a convert to the teaching of Mazdak who, hoVever, is
worsted in a public disputation by Kisni and put to death with his
followers. Kubad appoints Kisni, to whom the folk give the name
; -.van, his successor and dies.
NOTE
According to Mir Kh.md, Kubad (Kobad, A.D. 488-531) was
known aa •' the well-intentioned." l Historically the events of his
I., Vol. ii. p. 371. The nickname may !•«• illustrated by
th« following story from the Persian Tabari. Kubad was engaged once
in hunting at vintage-time and reached a village where he saw a very
beautiful vim-. Near by was a woman, engaged in baking bread,
who had with IHT a child sonic three years old. Suddenly the child
the -ard.-n wh.-n- th«- vino was, pick. < I a l.unrh of grapes, and
was about to eat them. Tin- woman sUj.,,,.,1 the child, took away the
l.'in. h. and refastened it to th< vine. Kubad, astounded at her parsi-
t<h<(l tii-- \iin' and asked the woman whose it was. She
if it IM lon-'-d to h. i. HI- tln-n imjiiireil whose tin- child
was, and she- told him that it was her-. Th.-n h- -aid : M \\\\y have
183
184 THE SHAHNAMA OF F1RDAUSI
reigu, as set forth in the Shrihnrima, may be revised as follows.
Sufarai remained at the head of affairs until the revolt occurred
that drove the Shrill to take refuge with the Haitrilians. This
revolt was brought about by the conversion of Kubrid to the
doctrines of the heresiarch Mazdak, who had a large and increasing
following. Kubrid seems to have been sincere in his adoption of
Mazdakism, but at the same time used its subversive principles as
a means of reducing the power of, and of humbling, the great
nobles. The official hierarchy, however, took alarm, Kubrid was
dethroned and shut up in the "Castle of Oblivion" in Susiana, and
Jamasp, his brother, reigned in his stead. Kubrid, however, by
the help of his sister, wife, or both, or of Sufarai himself, managed
to make good his escape to the Haitiilians with whom he had
stayed for some two years as a hostage during the lifetime of his
father.1 During his second sojourn among them he married his
own niece — the offspring, by the Haitdlian king, of the captive
daughter of Piruz.2 Helped" by his royal father-in-law Kubtid
managed to recover his throne and placed Sufarai again at the head
of affairs, but at length, finding him too powerful, called in the aid
of his rival — Shripur of Rai, the captain of the host — and had him
put to death. Kubad never seems to have abandoned his personal
regard for Mazdakism, in spite of the fact that it had cost him the
temporary loss of his crown, until nearly the end of his long
reign. Probably after his restoration he was content to hold it
as a pious opinion only, no longer as a weapon to be used against
the nobility or in a manner provocative of the Magi. The Maz-
dakites, however, not unnaturally became concerned about the
future — what would happen on Kubad's death ? Accordingly they
you taken the bunch of grapes away from it, beaten it, and refused to
your own child a paltry bunch." She replied : " We are not free to
dispose of our own, for the Shah has a share, and before some one comes
on his behalf to deduct his portion we dare not put hand to it." Kubad
said : "Do you only or do all folk act thus ? " She answered : " Not
I alone, but all in the realm of Kubad." The Shah was full of pity for
his subjects, narrated the story to his ministers, and bade them find a
less oppressive way of raising revenue. They recommended that the
whole realm should be surveyed and taxed in proportion to its fertility,
remoteness, and distance from water. Then the revenue would be in
money which could be demanded at any time. The Shah gave orders
accordingly, and the work was begun, but finding that it could not be
completed in his own lifetime he charged his son and destined successor,
Nushirwan, to see that it was carried through, which he did (p. 224 seq.).
— ZT, ii. 152 seq.
* See p. 160. 2 Id. p. 161.
KUBAD SON OF PIRUZ 185
attempted to secure the succession for one of Kubad's sons whom
they knew that they could trust. Kul»;id, however, had made up
his mind already in favour of another heir, and a great massacre
«.f Mazdakites ensued. This seems to have taken place at the end
"f A.D. 528 or the beginning of A.D. 529. Kisra in consequence of
the share that he took in exterminating the Communists received
the name of Xushirwan.1
account, from which all irrevelant history has been omitted,
differs widely, as will be seen, from that given in the Shahnama :
Mazdak and his evangel have been replaced in their proper his-
torical context, the story of the birth of Kisra has been omitted,
and so has all reference to Rizmihr, Sufarai's son.
§§ 2 and 3. Tabari tells us that when, at the instance of Kub;id,
Sbapur of Rai overthrew Sukhra (Sufarai), a saying, which became
a proverb, grew current and ran thus : " Sukhni's wind is gone ;
now a wind has risen for Mihran." Mihran was the name of one of
the great Arsacid families that played an important role, and held
high office, in Sasaiiian times, and its employment in the above
proverb has led Noldeke to suspect that "Sukhra" also must be
the title of a family, not the name of an individual, as otherv
the two halves of the proverb would not have balanced properly.
He is inclined therefore to the opinion that Sukhra ami Zarmihr—
the Rizmihr of Firdausi — were not two individuals standing in
the relation of father and son to each other, but one and the same
>n — Zarmihr of the family of Sukhra of the house of Ksiran.*
Tliis house, like that of Mihran, was probably of Arsacid descent,
l»ut in irtfnian tradition, as we learn from the Shahnama. claimed
a much older origin and looked upon Kawa, the smith, who raised
the standard of revolt against the tyranny of Zahh;ik, as the founder
of its fortunes.3 However this may be, the rivalry between two
great families, and the employment by the Shah of one of them to
deliver himself from the overgrown authority of the other would
be natural enough. It is to be noted that Shapur of Rai is dex-ribed
in the I'oem as being descended from Mihrak— the mortal enem
MM IMpakan and evidently for some reason or other a very
important personage in Iranian legend. He is said to have been of
Jahrain in Pars, while Kai, with \vhidi his descendant Shajiur is
associated, was the centre of Arsa« id p<>\\vr in popular tradition.4
very long ngo we had a Mihran as treasurer to Yazdagird son
1 MM, ii. 106. if. (.. _'ll and note.
» NT. pp. 120 note, 140n.ul / » See Vol. i. ,.. l i
Vol. vi. pp. 201. _• :;:. IMI. 256, 26f>
186 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
of Shiipur,1 quite lately we found another — Ruhham — helping
Piruz in his struggle against his brother Hurmuz,8 presently we
shall come uj)on a third as the opponent of Belisarius,8 a fourth as
a general in Nushirwan's host,4 while a fifth — Mihnin Sitad — goes
on a mission to the Khan.5
In Kubad's plans for escape to the Huitalians he associates him-
self with six others. Seven is a favourite number in Persian story.
We have the Seven Climes, the Seven Courses or Stages of Rustam
and Asfandiyar, the Fight of the Seven Warriors, the Seven Feasts
of Nushirwdn, and other instances.6
§ 4. According to Tabari, Kubad fled twice to the Haitdlians,
once on the occasion of his unhistorical contention with Balush7
and again, historically, here. On both occasions he is said to have
contracted a marriage on his journey and to have been accompanied
by Zarmihr (Rizmihr). This is stated by Tabari with regard to the
first flight and by Dinawari and Firdausi as to the second.8
§ 5. In the above accounts the birth of Kisra is chronicled in
connection with both flights. This duplication does not make the
story any the more probable, and, as a matter of fact, Kisra appears
to have been the son of the sister of one of Kubad 's generals who
served in the Roman war, A.D. 502-506.° In view of the subsequent
importance of Kisra it was incumbent that Kubad should ask and
receive satisfactory assurances as to the descent of the mother of his
son. The name Kisra is the Arabic form of the Persian Khusrau
which, with the exception of twelve years, was the name of the
Shahs from A.D. 531 to A.D. 627, if we leave out of account the
usurper Bahrdm Chubina.
Jamasp who, according to Mir Khand, was known as "the
proud," 10 appears to have reigned for two years, A.D. 496-498, and
it is to be feared that his brother's treatment of him after his
deposition was not so amiable as Firdausi would have us believe.
The same remark would apply to Jamasp's adherents, whom also the
poet tells us were pardoned. One account at all events states that
Kubad " killed the Great " when he regained the throne.11
According to Tabari, Zarmihr (Rizmihr) was put to death by
Kubiid some time after his restoration.12 The story of the Shah's
ingratitude to the father is duplicated in the case of the son, which
1 Id. p. 387. 2 p. 156. 3 p. 187.
4 p. 251. Cf. NT, p. 139 note. 6 p. 350.
« See Vol. vi. p. 207. 7 p. 170.
8 NT, pp. 135, 145 and note. 9 Id. and cf. p. 187.
10 RM, Pt. I, vol. ii. p. 371. » NT., p. 461 and note.
12 Id. p. 142.
KUBAD SON OF PIRUZ 187
in itself is suspicious, as is the almost superhuman loyalty displayed
by the latter in § 3. It may be laid to the account of the legitimist
view that obtains in this part of the poem.1 If Sufarai be the
Persian Commander-in-chief called Seoses in Procopius he was not
put to death till about A.D. 519.*
Until war broke out in A.D. 502 there had been, with one slight
exception in the reign of Yazdagird son of Bahrain Gur,3 a period
of peace for eighty years between tin- Persian and Eastern Roman
Empires. To both the defence of the passes in the Caucasus
against the incursions of northern Barbarians was equally important,
and the understanding was that both should contribute equally to
tli at end. This arrangement formed one of the terms of the peace
concluded by Yazdagird with the younger Theodosius after the
brief war, above, mentioned, in A.D. 442. The Romans, however,
were very remiss in carrying out their part of the undertaking, and
their money contribution was in arrear. Both parties seem to have
been inclined to look upon the money as tribute to be exacted or
refused according to circumstances, and this added to the difficulty
of an agreement which probably is responsible for the notion often
found in Iranian legend that Rum was tributary to Iran. Kubad,
after his restoration, found himself in want of money to pay his
Haitalian allies and applied to the Emperor Anastasius for the
arrears due for the defence of the passes. Anastasius refused, his
motive being, it is said, the hope of embroiling Kuhiid with his
northern mercenaries, and the Shah declared war. At first he was
very successful, taking Theodosiopolis in Roman Armenia and
Amida in northern Mesopotamia, but the generals whom he left
irry on the war, when he himself was called off to resist an
II iit.di.in invasion, were less successful, and Kubad commissioned
hi* brother-in-law, the uncle of Kisra, to negotiate a peace.4 The
Persians received a lump sum and gave up the captured cities.
Towards the end of Kubad's reign war again broke out, A.D. 526,
and lasted till his death. It was in this war that Belisarius rose
to fame and fought twice with one of the Mihrans named Piruz.'
Procopius, who had become secretary to Belisarius in A.D. 527,
gives a correspondence purporting to have passed between the
two generals.*
Hul win was situated north-west of Kirmanshah at Sar-i-pul-i-
:ib.7 Kubad n Mined it as he also renamed a town
» See Vol. vi. |.. l>:.l. " NT, p. 145 note.
* See p. 163. * NT. p I «•"• note; RSM, p. 360 and note.
• Cf. p. 186. SM, p. 368 »tq. and note.
1 /'I. 564 note; NT. |> i:w and note.
1 88 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
called Aragan on the borders of Alnvaz and Pars not far from the
present Bihbihnn. He changed Aragan to Ramkubad.1
§§ 6 and 7. In the Vendidiid there is a reference to " the ungodly
fasting Ashemaogha " (lieretic), to which the Pahlavi commentary on
the Zandavasta adds: "like Mazdak, son of Baradat."2 In the
late Pahlavi Text known as the Bahman Yasht the names are given
of six priests whom Nushirwun summoned to his aid in his disputa-
tion with Mazdak.3 Two of them are recognisable in Firdausi's
Hurmuzd and Mihr-Azar. Mazdak's place of birth is quite uncer-
tain, and his historical importance began and ended with the reign
of Kubiid. The poet omits to mention two of Mazdak's principles
— the prohibition of bloodshed and of flesh-eating — but in other
respects his account of that heresiarch's doctrines seems to be sub-
stantially correct — Zoroastrianism with private property and the
family abolished. To this anarchical Faith doubtlessly he did his
best to win over Kubad's recognised heir, failing in which he schemed
to alter the succession and perished in the attempt. This seems
to be the obvious explanation of the catastrophe. Muni and his
followers in their time fared no better.4 Nushirwan was far too
able and practical to be led away by Mazdak, and on coming to the
throne tried his best to repair the mischief that had been clone.5
§ i
How Kubdd sat upon the Throne and made an Oration
to the Iranians
C. 1603 When glorious Kubad sat on the throne,
And donned the crown of majesty, he went
To Taisafun, departing from Istakhr—
The glory of the great. Now when he sat
Upon Piruz's 6 seat he said : " Conceal
Naught from me. By bright day and darksome night
1 Id. 13 and note, 146. 2 DZA, i. 48 and note.
3 WPT, i. 194. 4 See Vol. vi. p. 359; NT, 465.
6 NT, p. 163. For Mazdak and the Mazdakites generally see id.
p. 455 se.q.
6 Or "victorious" or, with a slight change of reading (P), "tur-
quoise," but the translation given is most in accord to the legitimist
tendency in this part of the Shahnama. Cf. Vol. vi. p. 251.
KUBAD SON OF PIRUZ 189
The way to me is open unto you.
The man is great who ordereth his tongue
To right discourse and seeketh not deceit,
\Yhile since he will be merciful in wrath
The best of men will welcome him as guide.
He setteth up the throne of acceptation
Wit hin the world, receiving from the great
Just commendation. If thou keep'st thy heart
from revenge both great and small will praise
thee,
But when the great king is a double-dealer
Hi- double-dealing is a call to strife.
Fir>t hear a matter through for thus apprised
Thou wilt reply aright . When any sage
Is covetous his knowledge will not fruit ;
When he is headstrong it will be to him
Like water in a salt marsh. Furthermore
'Tis well to get a soldier's heart and bear
Reproach submissively.1 The rich, hard man
• \en than a mendicant ;
But when a foolish mendicant hath sway
1 1 i^ rule is simple madness. He that knoweth
II «\\ n defects will not be eloquent
< of others. Patience is the pillar
< M \\ isdnm : to be wroth is but to make
Oneself despised. Submission to God's justice
Will make thee rich, sinei-re. and honourable,
For thou art i'n-« <1 from care. The body of him
That hath no greed i> I>H t» i than a treasure,
While that man whose viaticum is knowledge
Will die in person but in name live ever ;
So put ye all your hands to good alone,
And walk not on this whirling world for ill.
il. with n V<TV slight change of readi l.itoe : "Olui qui
i.r rafTcction <!<• I'm-nuT prcnd mi ton modceto, m6mo en
' .'• !'• "•
190 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
The nobles all called blessings down on him,
And showered emeralds upon his crown.
He was a youth of sixteen years, ard bore
As yet but little part in government,
C. 1604 While Sufarai took order for the world.
Kubad ruled in the palace ; all affairs
Were managed wholly by the paladin.
He suffered no one to approach the Shah,
Who had no archmage and gave no command
Or counsel. Sufarai ruled all the land.
How Sufarai went to Shirdz, how the Iranians slandered
him to Kubad, and how Kubad slew him
Thus in the cup the wine was tulip-like
Until Kubad was twenty-one ] years old ;
Then Sufarai came in before the king
For licence to go home and thereupon
He gat him ready with his retinue,
Struck up the drums, and started for Shiraz,
Returning to his country, full of joy,
As one that had obtained his whole desire.
All Pars was as it were a slave before him,
And, save the throne of empire, all was his.
His thoughts were these : "I have set up the Shah,
And done him homage as my sovereign,
So now if any man shall slander me
He will rebuke that man and banish him."
He levied tribute on the provinces,
On all the men of name and all the chiefs.
When tidings of his just and unjust deeds
Came from Shiraz to glorious Kubad,
1 Reading with P.
KUBAD SON OF P1RUZ 191
The people said : " The Shah hath but the crown.
And not the troops and treasure in Iran,
Hath no authority, is not consult! <1 .
Tlu- world is all the slave of Sufarai."
All those that shared the secrets of Kubad
Repeated to him what the people said,
And added : " Why, exalt rd kin<r ! art thou
Contented merely to be king in name ?
Hi- treasury is better filled than thine :
Thou shouldst release the world from his oppression.
All Pars hath grown as 'twere a slave to him,
The great men have become his thralls."
These words
Seduced Kubad 's * heart, which became forgetful
Of all the services of Sufarai ;.
He said : " If I shall send an army forth
H( will revolt and seek to be avenged,
I shall but use my wealth to make a foe,
While he will cause much trouble and much toil.
The people all are talking of his deeds,
Unwitting of his secret purposes.
I know not any warrior of tan
To march against him with a host to battle."
A wise nian answered thus : " Think not that he
E'er will be recognised as king. Thou hast
Both lieges and a leader of the host C. 1605
That can lay hand upon the eirelinji sky ;
So when Shapur of Rai is on the march
The heart oi \\i<-ked Sufarai will rive."
The Shah took courage when he heard these words,
Forgot the merit and presumed the guilt ;
• •n bade a veteran mount as swift as wind,
And, on the plea of faring forth to ha\\ k.
Go to Shapur of Rai, cause him to mount
Forthwith upon his steed, and Biiminon him
1 800 p. 170, note.
192 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
From Rai to court . The messenger, who took
A spare steed, went swift as an autumn-blast
To Rai as he was bidden by the king.
The chamberlain there saw and questioned him,
Took the king's letter, went before Shapur,
Gave it, and introduced that noble horseman.
Shapur, who was descended from Mihrak,
Smiled when he read the letter of Kubad,1
For Sufarai had not a foe like him
In public and in private. Thus apprised
Shapur convoked his lieges and led forth
His army in all haste to Taisafun.
When he had brought his army to the Shah
They gave him audience instantly. The world-lord,
On seeing him, received him graciously,
Caused him to sit upon the turquoise throne,
And said : "I have no portion in this crown,
Am noted 'mongst the foolish in the world.
All power is with Sufarai ; I see
But sovereignty in name. Late in the day
My body shrinketh from the weights that press
With justice or injustice on my neck.
E'en were my brother master of Iran
'Twerc better than this unjust Sufarai."
Shapur replied : "0 king ! be not aggrieved
At heart on this account. Thou shouldest write
A letter in harsh terms to him, for thou
Hast Grace and fame, high lineage and support.
Say : ' Of the crown of king of kings my share
Is travail and an empty treasure-house.
Thou takest tribute, and I bear the blame.
I will not have thee call me Shah henceforth.
Lo ! I have sent to thee a paladin
In that thy conduct causeth me to wail.'
When he shall get a letter thus conceived,
1 Id.
KUBAD SON OF PIRUZ 193
And I am there with troops prepared for fight,
I will not leave him time t<> wink an eye,
Or speak a word to him unless in wrath."
Thoy called to them a scribe and seated him
Before Shapur, who said again the words
As spoken in the presence of the Shah :
Thr writ 1 1 wrote them, grieving secretly.
Shapur, whenas the Shah had sealed the letter,
Led forth his host, then added famous chiefs, C. 1606
Disbanded from the armies of the king,
And with those nobles eager for the fray
face toward the city of Shiraz.
11 Sufarai had tidings of the matter
1 1 .1 1 1 a i i cl at once, and with a mighty host —
Pic ked cavaliers in mail — went out to meet
Shapur. They met, and those two haughty chi«
Alight* d. from their steeds. Now when Shapur
Sat down with Sufarai they talked at large
Of projects good and ill. Shapur then gave
The letter of the king, and matters reached
A cruel, shameful pass ; the paladin,
Win -n he had read the letter, changed his favour,
Was stunned and dark of soul. Then said Shapur,
The h-ttcr being read : " I must be plain :
The world-lord ordered that thou shouldst 1>
bound,
Complaining much of thee before the nobles,
And thou wilt gather, having read his letter.
That he is resolute."
The paladin
Replied : " The monarch of tin- \\ <>rld is ware
What toil and hardship I have borne for him,
That marching from Zabulistan with troops
I set him free from bondage by my valour,
And suffered no calamity to come
Upon him. I had influence with t he Shah,
VOL. Vll N
194 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
And with the chieftains of the fr&nian host,
But since bonds are to be my recompense,
And my resistance will be troublesome
To thee, I ask no respite. Bind my feet :
The fetters of Kubad will profit me.
Doth he not shame before God and the host,
For I shed freely my warm blood for him ?
What time the Shah was in captivity
I swore by God a mighty oath, and said : —
4 My hand shall look but on my falchion's hilt,
And I wiU cloud the sun in fight, till I
Shall give my head or bring down from the throne
The head of Khushnawaz between the shears.'
And now he biddeth me be bound ! Is't right ?
Receive I but derogatory words ?
Still turn not aught from his commands, for know
That bonds but ornament a hero's feet."
Shapur, on hearing this, made fast the fetters,
Then bade the trumpet sound and gat to horse.
From Pars he carried Sufarai before
Kubad, who thought not of past services,
But bade men bear him to the prison-house,
Near where the madmen were, and gave command
To carry from Shiraz to Taisaf un
What wealth soever he possessed — his folk,
His treasures, and the produce of his fields —
By those appointed to the treasurer.
C. 1607 Now when a week had passed Kubad consulted
The archmages how to deal with Sufarai,
And thus a counsellor addressed the Shah : —
" The whole of Taisaf un is on his side —
Troops, courtiers, thanes, and populace alike.
If he abideth in Iran unscathed
Thou mayest wash thy hands of sovereignty.
The foeman of the Shah is best when killed,
His hater's fortune best when overturned."
KUBAD SON OP PIRUZ 195
Now when the Shah had heard the archmage's
counsel
He took a new course and despised the old,
Gave his command that Sufarai be slain,
The hearts of all his kindred wrung with pain.
§3
How the Iranians put Ktibdd in Bonds and committed him to
Rizmihr, the Son of Sufarai, and how Jdmdsp, the Brother
of Kubdd, was set upon the Throne
Now when these tidings reached the Iranians : —
" He of the elephantine form is dead,"
A cry of anguish went up from Iran,
Men, women, children, all alike bewailed ;
The tongue of every one was steeped in curses,
And secret thoughts found public utterance.
Iran was all convulsed, the dust went up,
While all folk made them ready for the fight,
And thus they said : " Since Sufarai is gone
Let not Ku bad's throne be within tan."
The soldiers and t h<- cit izens agreed,
They would not 1>< ar the mention of Kubad,
But marched upon the palace of the Shah,
Vexed at his ill advisers, for redress.
These men — all malice and intent on evil —
They took, dragged from the palace, and then sought
With diligence for traces of Jamasp,
vounger brother and a noble youth.
One whom Kubad had cherished tenderly.
Th«-y chose him, seated him upon the throne,
And called down blessings on him as their Shah ;
But made Ku bad's feet fast in iron fetters,
Unheedful nf his Grace and noble birth.
196 THE SHAHNAMA OF F1RDAUSI
Now Sufarai had one son well beloved,
A wise man, holy and illustrious,
A youth without offence, Rizmihr by name,
Whose fame had made his father well content.
To him the people gave Kubad in bonds,
As unto some malicious enemy,
And thought : " Through grief the loving son will take
Revenge upon the king for Sufarai."
The good Rizmihr, the worshipper of God,
Laid not his hand for ill upon the world -lord,1
C. 1608 But did obeisance to Kubad and spake
No words to him about his evil deeds,
Whereat the world -lord marvelled much, began
To bless Rizmihr, and thus excused himself : —
" My foes have troubled much my star and moon,
But, if I find deliverance from bond,
I will reward thee for all ills endured,
For I will banish anguish from thy heart,
And cause the eyes that look on thee to shine."
Rizmihr made answer to him thus : " O king !
Let not thy soul be grieved on this account,
For when a father acted not aright
His son should bear the sorrow of his death.
As touching mine own self, I am thy slave ;
I stand before thee as a servitor,
And at thy bidding I will swear that never
Will I break off my fealty to thee."
So spake Rizmihr and as the monarch heard
His heart began to throb for very joy,
His soul regained its confidence and grew
Right joyful at the words of that wise man.
He made Rizmihr his confidant and said : —
" I will not hide my thoughts from thee. Five men
Are sharers in my secrets. None besides
Hath listened to my voice. Now we will summon
1 Cf. p. 187.
KUBAD SON OF PIRUZ 197
These five and ope to them our secret plan
If it appears that we havo need of them,
While if from fetters thou shalt set me free
Know this — my policy shall profit thee."
§4
How Kubdd escaped from Ward with Rizmihr, how he wedded
the Daughter of a Thane, and how he took Refuge with the
Haitdlians
The good Rizmihr, on hearing this, anon
Released Kubad from fetters. From the city
They fared forth to the plain by night, unseen
By foes, and made toward the Haitalians,
Wrung with anxiety and hurrying.
On this wise spad the seven like flying dust
Until with dizzy heads they reached Ahwaz,
And entered on their steeds that wealthy town —
A town wherein a famous chieftain dwelt.
mounting at the dwelling of the thane
They tarried there and breathed themselves awhile.
He had a daughter moonlike, crowned with musk,
And, wlu-ii Kubad beheld her face, all wisdom
Fled from his youthful brain. He wont forth wit h.
And told Rizmihr : "I have a privy word
For thee. Haste to the thane. Tell him from me : — c. 1609
'This moon-faced damsel — could she be my wife ? *
Rizmihr went instantly, informed the thane,
And said : " If thy fair daughter is unmated
I will provide her with a noble spouse,
thou shalt be the master of Ahwaz.1'
The illustrious thane made answer to Rizmihr : —
"My pretty daughter hath no hu-l>;m<l \
And, if she please thee, she is thine to give :
Give her to him thai loniirth after her.
"
198 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
The wise Rizmihr canie to Kubad and said : —
" May this Moon bring good fortune to the Shah.
Thou sawest her unawares and didst approve,
Thou didst approve of her just as she was."
Kubad then called to him that fairy-faced ;
The gallant warrior set her on his knee,
And having with him one, and but one, ring—
A signet-ring whose worth was known to none —
He gave it to her, saying : " Keep this signet ;
The day will come when I shall ask for it."
He stayed a se'nnight for that fair Moon's sake,
And parted on the eighth day with the dawn,
Went to the king of the Haitalians,
Told what had chanced, the Iranians' deeds, and how
They all had girded up their loins for ill.
The king replied : " The wrongs of Khushnawaz
Have surely brought thee to this strait to-day.
On these conditions will I give thee troops,
Who are crown-wearers, every one of them,
That if thou shalt recover crown and treasure,
Chaghan, its wealth and state, its march and rule,
Shall be all mine, and thou shalt keep my terms
And stipulations."
Said Kubad while smiling
At him who thus dictated terms : "I never
Will give that land a thought and, when thou wishest,
Will send thee troops in numbers numberless.
What is Chaghan that I should look that way ? "
When they had made their pact the Haitalian king
Unlocked his treasury and gave Kubad
Dinars and arms, and two score thousand swordsmen,
All famed as warriors and cavaliers.
Thus to Ahwaz from the Haitalians went
Kubad ; the whole world rang with that event.
KUBAD SON OF PIRUZ 199
§5
How Kubdd returned from Haitdl to Iran, how he had Tidings
of the Birth of his Son, Nushirwdn, and reascended the
Throne
Kubad approached the thane's abode and saw
In every street a scattered populace,
Who all apprised him of the joyful news : —
" Thy spouse brought forth a son to thee last night C. 1610
But little less resplendent than the moon,
And may he bring good fortune to the Shah."
Kubad. on hearing, went within the house
In great content. They named the boy Kisra.
Now afterwards Kubad asked of the thane : —
" From whom art thou descended, noble sir ? "
He said : " From valiant Faridun who took
The kingship from the kindred of Zahhak :
Thus said my father and my mother too : —
* We give our reverence to Faridun.' '
Kubad was pleasured yet more at the words,
And instantly resumed the royal crown.
He had a litter brought and, when his spouse
Was seated there, departed on his march ;
He led the army on to Taisaf un
In high displeasure with the Iranians.
Now in Iran the while the ancient chiefs
Sat with the sages and the notal
They said : " Between these two— both Shahs and
proud —
Tin- matter will prove wearisome for us.
Hosts are upon their way from Rum and Chin,
And they will cause much bloodshed in the land."
Then one of that assembly said : " Ye chi« ;
Exalted and heroie warriors!
Tis needful i hat we go out to Kubad,
200 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Who, it may be, will not recall the past,
And bring to him Jamasp, the ten years' child,
To turn the hailstones of his wrath to pearls ;
So haply we may swerve aside and 'scape
From pillaging, from bloodshed, and from war."
All went to meet Kubad and said to him : —
" O Shah of royal race ! if thou hast hurt
Men's hearts, and they have washed their hearts and
eyes
In petulance, now act as pleaseth thee
Because the world -lord ruleth o'er the world."
They all drew near to him in haste, afoot,
Dust-covered, and with gloomy souls. The Shah
Forgave the evil doings of his lords,
Accepting their excuse in lieu of bloodshed ;
He pardoned too Jamasp : the nobles blessed him.
He came and sat upon the royal throne :
Jamasp became his liege. Kubad bestowed
The conduct of the realm upon Rizmihr,
And gave him great advancement. By his means
The kingship was well ordered, and the world
Fulfilled with justice and prosperity.
Thus matters fared until Kisra grew tall —
A stripling bold and lusty. Then Kubad
Entrusted to wise governors his son,
That fresh and fruitful Bough. Kubad directed
All matters in Iran and in Turan,
And raised his crown of greatness to the sky.
Thereafter he led forth his host to Rum,
Which proved as 'twere a lump of wax to him :
C. 1611 He made a thorn-brake of those fields and fells.
Two cities asked for quarter at his hands,
One Hindiya, the other Farikin.
He taught the Zandavasta there, established
The Faith, and instituted Fanes of Fire,
His power, the feasts of New Year's Day and Sada.
KUBAD SON OF PIRUZ 201
He fixed his royal seat at Mada'in.
And wrought much good and ill. He built a city
Betwixt Ahwaz and Pars, and founded too
A hospital. He called the city's name
Arash ; the Arabs call it no\v HuKvun.
They opened everywhere canals that flowed
\-hrim, and peace and rest on earth abode.
§6
The Story of Kubdd and Mazdak, and how Kubdd
adopted the Faith of Mazdak
Then there arose a man by name Mazdak,
Learned, eloquent, judicious, and commanding,
Of noble birth, a trafficker in knowledge,
And brave Kubad gave ear to him. This man
Became the king of kings' chief minister,
The treasurer and the guardian of the treasure.
Then famine visited the world through drought,
A famine that afflicted great and small ;
No sign of snow appeared upon the sky,
And none saw snow or rain-fall in tan.
At length the nobles of the world begged bread
And water at the portal of Kubad.
Mazdak returned them this reply : " The Shah
Will manifest to you a way of hope,"
Then came himself in haste before t h<« king,
And said to him : " O upright Shah ! I fain
Would question thee upon a point if thou
Wilt condescend to answer."
Eloquent
Kuhad replied : " Say on and make my lustre
Fresh in the world."
" A man," Mazdak rejoined,
hitton by a his li IV is passing ;
202 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Another man hath got the antidote
Whereof the bitten can obtain no share.
What then should be the guerdon of the man
That hath it ? Money will not purchase it."
The Shah replied : " He is a murderer,
And should be slain to avenge the other's blood
Before my gate whenever the pursuer
Shall take him."
Hearing this Mazdak went forth
To those petitioners and told them thus : —
" I have discussed the matter with the Shah.
Wait till the dawn, and I will show you how
To right yourselves."
C. 1612 They went away, returning
At dawn with stricken hearts in deep affliction.
Mazdak, when he beheld those chiefs from far,
Ban from the portal to the Shah and said : —
" O thou victorious Shah and eloquent,
Unsleeping, and the glory of the throne !
Thou gavest me an answer, when I spake,
And by that answer oped my bolted door,
So now with thy permission I will speak
A word to guide thee."
" Speak," the Shah replied,
" Lock not thy lips because thy words will help me."
Mazdak said : " Noble king ! suppose a man,
Whom thou hast bound, but they withhold from him
All food until he dieth, thus perforce
Surrendering sweet life. Now how should one
Be punished who had bread yet left that captive
In destitution ? Will the great king say : —
' This man was wise and holy ? '
Said the Shah :—
" Rend such to pieces, for through his neglect
He is a murderer."
On hearing this
SON OF PIRUZ 203
Mazdak, when he had kissed the ground, went forth.
And from the portal thus harangued the crowd : —
" Go to the magazines where grain is stored,
And help yourselves while if thr owners ask
Its value give them gold."
His own possessions
Wit hiii that city he gave up to pillage
In order that all folk might have their share.
Then all the hungry rabble fared in haste
To plunder every magazine of corn ,
Owned by the citizens or by Kubad,
Who had none left to bless themselves withal.
The officers, when they perceived this, went
Before the watchful world-lord and thus said : —
" The mob have sacked the Shah's own granaries,
But all the fault recoileth on Mazdak."
Kubad bade call that man of eloquence,
And talked with him about the pillaging.
Mazdak replied : " Mayst thou be fortunate,
And may thy words be wisdom's daily food.
I only told the wretched market -folk
The words which I had heard the monarch speak.
I asked the Shah about the snake and poison,
And of the man who had the antido1
The Shah returned this answer to his servant
Concerning him that had and him that sought it :—
' If any die of snake-bite in the city.
Unhelped by one who hath the remedy,
For siieh they shall require that niggard's blood.'
The Shah's authority must not be slighted.
Bread is tin- antidote tor hungry men—
An antidote not wanted by the full.
It thou art one that jiulgest right, O Shah !
Shall not the corn in store be put to use ?
To hunger have a multitude succumbed, a 1613
Whose deaths are due to idle granaries."
204 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Kubad was much affected by the words :
These righteous words aroused his brain to action .
Then, questioning Mazdak and hearing him,
The Shah perceived him learned hi heart and brain
In all things that the prophets, the archmages —
Those righteous dealers — and the great had spoken.
The teaching of Mazdak perverted him,
And exercised unbounded influence.
The multitude came thronging to Mazdak —
The many that had wandered from the way :
He said to them : " The man of empty hand
Is equal to the man possessed of wealth.
No one should have a superfluity,
The wealthy is the warp, the poor the woof ;
To right the world all men must have sufficient ;
The rich man's plenty is abominable ;
The women, goods, and houses are for all ;
The empty-handed and the rich are one.
I will take order that the holy Faith
Be manifest, the lofty from the low.
Whoever is of other Faith than this,
The malison of God is on that div."
He treated mendicants, both old and young,
As though they were the equals of himself,
He took from this man and bestowed on that ;
The archmages were astonied at his doings.
Kubad himself gave ear and was converted,
And of all things was joyful in his words.
He set Mazdak at his right hand although
An archimage unknown to all the host,
And unto him the mendicants resorted
With those that earned a living by their toil ;
His Faith began to flourish in the world,
And no one dared to seek revenge on him,
The rich renounced the things that made them glad,
And gave to mendicants what wealth they had.
KUBAD SON OF PIRV/. 205
§7
Haw NusMrwdn rejected the Faith of Mazdak and slew
him and his Followers
It happened that Mazdak at dawn one day
Went from his house and came before the Shah,
And thus he said : " Of those that hold our Faith,
As well as of our lieges pure of heart,
A crowd of chiefs are at the door ; shall I
Admit them or shall they depart ? "
Kubad,
On hearing, bade the chamberlain admit them,
Whereat Mazdak said to the noble Shah : —
" This house is narrow and the crowd is great,
In sooth the audience-hall will hold them not ; c. 1614
Let the Shah go and see them on the plain."
Kubad commanded that his throne be brought,
Brought from the royal palace to the waste,
And there a hundred thousand Mazdakis
Proceeded joyfully before the Shah,
And thus Mazdak addressed the king of earth : —
" O thou above all knowledge and acclaim !
Know that Kisra accept eth not our Faith,
But is it fit that he should turn therefrom ?
We must obtain from him an undertaking
In writing to give up his evil course.
Tin-re are five things that turn men from the right,
And e'en the sage can add no sixth. Now these
Are anger, vengeance, jealousy, and need ;
The fifth is greed, which is predominant,
And it thou conquer these five divs the wftj
Of God will be made manifest to thee.
imtheae tivr things it comrth that our women
And wraith work havoc with t ho good religion,
But will not meddle morr if thou wilt keep it
206 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
Intact. The twain cause jealousy, greed, need,
While anger and revenge conspire with them,
And thus the Div perverteth wise men's heads :
The twain should be a common property."
This spoken, by the hand he grasped Kisra,
What while the Shah looked on in wonderment.
The noble prince in wrath withdrew his hand,
And turned his eyes in anger from Mazdak,
To whom Kubad said smiling : " Why art thou
Concerned for the religion of Kisra ? "
Mazdak rejoined : " The way of righteousness
Is not in him. He is not of our Faith."
The Shah then questioned of Kisra and said : —
" What way is there except the good religion ? "
Kisra replied : " If I shall have the time
Allowed me I will prove this theory false.
When both the fraud and falsehood shall appear
My truth will show out more conspicuously."
Mazdak rejoined : " Thou askest of the Shah —
The lustre of the world — how many days ? "
He said : "I ask a period of five months.
The Shah shall have his answer in the sixth
On all points."
They agreed and so departed.
The exalted Shah returned to his own palace.
Kisra dispatched a man to every quarter
To look for sages and auxiliaries.
An envoy went to Khurra-i-Ardshir
To cause the old Hurmuzd to come to court,
While from Istakhr came Mihr-Azar of Pars
With thirty friends. These seekers after knowledge
Held session and discussed the case at large,
And then these men of lore and ancient sages
Presented their conclusions to Kisra,
C. 1615 While he, when he had heard, went to Kubad,
Discoursed with him about Mazdak, and said : —
KUDAD SON OF P1RUZ 207
" The time now hath arrived when 1 would make
Investigation of the good religion.
If then Mazdak be right, and if the Faith
Delivered by Zarduhsht shall prove in fault.
I will accept the true Faith of Mazdak,
And make my soul's choice his,1 for when the way
Of Faridun, of Esdras, and of Christ,
And all the Zandavasta, shall prove wrong,
And when the doctrine of Mazdak shall stand,
The world must take him for its only guide.
If, on the other hand, bis words are false,
And he ensueth not God's holy way;
Then turn thee from the pathway of his Faith,
Put far from thee this sorry Creed of his,
And give him with his followers to me ;
God grant that none of them keep brain and skii i .
He took as witnesses Bizmihr. Kharrad,
Bihzad, Bandwi, and Fara'in, and thence
Departed to his palace and observed
The righteous covenant that he had made.
At dawn, what time the sun displayed its crown,
And earth was like a sea of ivory,
The world -king's son, that man of eloquence,
Set forth with chieftains and with archimages.
Th<-y went together to the royal palace.
Their speech was fluent and their quest the WHY.
That youth — the Joy of hearts — came to Kubad,
And op- asc, whereon an archimago
Addressed Mazdak l»rtoiv the throng and said : —
" O seeker after wisdom ! thou hast framed
A new religion in the world and made
< oimiumity of women and of goods.
How will a father recognise his son,
'l'li«- son in likr wise recognise his father ?
very man is equal in the world,
j'arracherai dc mon Arae octto ortie" (Mohl).
208 THE SHAH NAM A OF F1RDAUSI
And great and little are no more discerned,
Who then will serve, and how can any rule ? l
Who then will labour for us, thee and me,
And how shall good men be discerned from bad ?
When one shall die to whom will appertain
His house and goods when toiling slave and Shah
Are equal ? This will desolate the world ;
Such evil must not come upon fran.
When all are masters who will be the servant ?
When all have treasure who be treasurer ?
None of the leaders of the Faith spake thus,
And thou art mad although thou hidest it.
Thou leadest all mankind to Hell, and thou
Accountest not all evil-doing wrong."
Kubad, when he had heard the archmage's words,
Was wroth and then gave sentence on the case.
The illustrious Kisra supported him,
The impious one grew full of fear at heart,
C. 1616 While all the people there assembled cried : —
" Let not Mazdak remain before the Shah ;
He hath made havoc of the Faith of God ;
Let him not tarry at this famous court."
The Shah became abhorrent from that Faith,
The heads of all its chiefs grew full of care.
He gave up to Kisra Mazdak forthwith
With all that held that doctrine and that way —
As many as three thousand men of name.
The king at that time thus addressed his son : —
" Do with those chiefs as seemeth good to thee,
And henceforth mention not Mazdak."
Kisra
Had at his court a pleasure-ground whose wall
Was higher than a crow could fly. Around
The circuit of that wall he dug a trench
Wherein he set those men at intervals.
1 For an exemplification of this see p. 26 8eq.
KUBAD SON OF P1RVZ 209
They phmtid them like- lives and firmly fixed
Their feet aloft, their heads below. Kisra
Addressed Mazdak on this wise : " Visit thou
The entrance of my noble garth. The seed
That thou hast scattered all this while hath brought
Fruit forth to thee, O thou insensate one !
Thou shalt see trees such as none e'er beheld,
Or heard described by shrewd men heretofore."
Mazdak went, oped the portal of the garden.
i thought maybe to see fruit-bearing trees,
But seeing what he did he gave a cry,
And then all consciousness abandoned him.
• rders for a lofty gibbet
To be set up and at the top to fasten
A twisted lasso. Thereupon he hung
impious wretch head-downwards and alive.
And after slew him with a shower of arro\\s.
It thou art prudent follow not Mazdak.!
chiefs felt reassured about their wealth.
Their \\nmen, children, and their pleasances.
>ad remained ashamed for many days,
And cursed Mazdak, gave mendicants much largessr
And offered gifts before the Fane of Fire.
1 1 < • gladdened at Kisra exceedingly
Because that Bough of his bare fruit of gems.
From th;:t time forth the father sought alway
The son's advice and heard what IK \\«>uld
§8
1 1 01 o Kubdd nominated Kisrd as Successor, and how the
Great gave him the Name of Nushirwn ;/
Now when Kubad had reigned for forty years
The grief of death's day came upon his heart .
adingwiM
VOI. \ II. O
2io THE SHAHN!MA OF FIRDAUSI
He had a writing fairly drawn on silk
In that befitting and engaging script ,1
C. 1617 And first he offered praise to that just Judge,
" Who gave us Faith, accomplishment, and wisdom,
Whose word is certain, whatsoe'er He saith,
Alike in secret things and manifest.
None hath beheld His height of sovereignty,
And His elect ne'er are contemptible.
All ye that see the writing of Kubad !
Give heed but to the counsel of the wise,
I have bestowed the honourable throne
Upon Kisra. Fair fortune will be his
When I am dead. May God accept my son,
And may his foes' hearts be fulfilled with smoke.
By this our signet-ring we do require
Of archimages, chiefs, and other subjects
That ye in no wise shall transgress his bidding,
But joy hi him and fill your treasuries."
He set his golden signet on that writing,
And placed it with the archmage Ram Barzin.
Kubad had come to four-score years and yet,
Old as he was, he did not wish for death.
Is any in the world content to die
Since no man knoweth what will come thereby ?
He died and left the world as his bequest ;
His travail, ease, and pleasures passed away.
Who profiteth by what he hath amast
Since empty-handed go he must at last ?
They draped the body with brocade and called
For rose and musk, for camphor and for wine.
They made for him a royal charnel-house,
A golden throne and crown of majesty.
They set the Shah upon the throne of gold,
Barred up the way thereto for evermore,
And thenceforth looked not on him. Thus he passed
* Pahlavi.
KUBAD SON OF PIRUZ 211
O'er this world, as thou might st have said, like wind !
How canst thou trust then in this ancient sky
Since it will end thee irremediably ?
The mourning being o'er, the high priest spread
The royal document upon the throne,
The magnates and archmages of tan,
And all tlu> famous sages, met in conclave,
The document was read before them all,
And with rejoicing they enthroned the heir.1
Now when Kisra ascended his new throne
The people hailed him as their new-made Shah,
Called praises down on him as sovereign,
And time and earth submitted to his sway.
His throne revived the world, and at the stream C. 1618
The sheep drank water with the wolf.2 Folk said :—
" May this Shah live for ever. May his Grace
Surpass Jamshid's."
His goodness and his justice,
His institutions, Faith, and far-famed knowledge
Were such that people called him Nushirwan,3
For love and signet were both young with him.
The story of Kubad is at an end,
And henceforth to Kisra my thoughts I bend.
1 In the text the reign of Nushirwan begins here, and there is no
division before § 3.
• Reading with P. » i.e. " Of immortal soul." Cf. p. 185.
XLI
NUSHlRWAN
HE REIGNED FORTY-EIGHT YEARS
ARGUMENT
The poet tells of the accession of Nushirwan, his internal
administration, his repression of marauding tribes, Ids first war
with Rum, the revolt and death of his son Nushzad, of the rise
to power and wisdom of Buzurjmihr, the fall of Mahbud, the
Shah's marriage with the daughter of the Khan, Buzurjmihr's
discourse on good words and deeds, the introduction into Persia
of the game of chess and the Fables of Bidpai, the legend of the
invention of the former and that of the game of nard, the fall and
the restoration to favour of Buzurjmihr, the wisdom of Nushirwan,
his last war with Rum, his appointment of his successor, and death.
NOTE
Kisra, surnamed Nushirwan (Chosroes I, A.D. 531-578), ruled
contemporaneously with three Eastern Roman Emperors — Justinian
(A.D. 527-565), Justin II (A.D. 565-574), and Tiberius II (A.D.
574-582). Justin resigned the rule to Tiberius, the captain of the
guards, in A.D. 574, but did not die till A.D. 578, the year of
Nushirwan's death. Nushirwan was perhaps the greatest of the
twenty-nine Sdsiinian Shahs, at least it is not easy to assign that
title to any other unless we reserve it for the founder of the
dynasty, Ardshir Papakan, who has to his credit the overthrow of
a long-standing foreign domination, the re-establishment of a
national dynasty, and all the toil of political reconstruction that
his successful revolt against the last Arsacid involved.
It will be seen that the poet had plenty of material for this
portion of his undertaking. The subject-matter falls naturally
into certain well-defined divisions ; accordingly we have broken
312
NV SHIR WAN 213
up the reigii, as in the case of that of Gushtasp,1 into Parts, but
is no such arrangement in the original.
will be referred to throughout by his popular title of
Nushirwaii.
The principal historical events recorded by Firdausi in his
account of the reign may be placed in approximate chronological
order as follows : —
The fall of Mahbud.
The reorganisation of the kingdom, finances, and army.
The chastisement of barbarous frontier-tribes.
The fortification of Darband.
The first war with Rum (A.D. 540-562).
The revolt of Nushzad (A.D. 551).
rwan's marriage with the daughter of the Khan.
The introduction into Persia of the Fables of Bidpai (about
A.D. 570).
The birth of Muhammad (about A.D. 571).
The second war with Rum (A.D. 572).
The first eight of these are included in the present volume.
1 Vol. v. p. 9.
PART I
NIJSHIRWXN'S ADMINISTRATION OF THE REALM,
HIS WARS WITH FRONTIER-TRIBES AND WITH
RIJM, AND THE REVOLT OF NtfSHZAD
ARGUMENT
Nushirwan ascends the throne and makes an oration to the people.
He divides the realm into four provinces, and takes order for all
matter civil and military. He builds a wall in the Caucasus and
represses the Alans and the men of Baliich and Gilan. He espouses
the cause of Munzir, the Arab, against Caesar, invades Rum, takes
cities, and compels Caesar to sue for peace and to pay tribute. On
a false report of the Shah's death his son, Nushzad, a Christian,
attempts to seize the crown. Nushirwan writes to his general, Ram
Barzin, instructing him how to proceed, and Nushzad is defeated
and slain.
NOTE
§ 2. Nushirwan's accession to the throne was not universally
popular and gave rise to a formidable conspiracy in favour of one
of his nephews.1
§ 3. Nushirwan's division of his empire into four satrapies differs
in details in the different authorities, but seems to have been
suggested by the names of the four winds. According to Dinawari
the East included Khurasan, Sistan, and Kirman ; the North
Ispahdn, Kum, Media Magna, and Azarbaijan ; the South Pars and
Ahwdz ; the West 'Irak to the Roman frontier.2 Firdausi in-
cludes the Khazars in the South division — a mistake. They lived
beyond the Caucasus.3 He includes too Rum in the West division
on the assumption, for which there was certainly some justification
at this time, that Rum was tributary to Iran. A peace or truce
concluded between Justinian and Nushirwan involved almost as a
matter of course a money-payment from the former to the latter.
It did not follow that Justinian always got the worst of the bargain.
For instance, in the definite treaty of peace between the two
1 See p. 316. 2 NT, p. 155, note. 3 See Vol. iv. p. 316.
214
NUSHtRWAN 215
empires in A.D. 562, Nushirwan's renunciation of Lazica (Mingrelia
and Imeritia), and consequently of his dream of a fleet and of assail-
ing Rum by sea, was well worth the thirty thousand pieces of gold
to be paid annually by Justinian though it did lay the Emperor
open to the imputation of being tributary to the Shah. Traditional
instances of such payments crop up in the Shahnama as far back
as the days of Ddrab and Failakvis.1
The popular version of the origin of Kubad's resolve to alter the
system of taxation has been given already.* It was left to
iiirwan to carry it out. According to Tabari the taxes imposed
were as follows :— On every garib of corn-laud, i.e. sown with
wheat or barley, a ground-tax of one drachm was imposed, on
every garib of vineyard eight, and of lucerne seven ; on four
Persian date-palms, six common date-palms, provided that they
grew in plantations or in numbers, and on six olives, one drachm.
Single, scattered trees were not taxed. On all men between the
ages of twenty and fifty a poll-tax varying, according to the
fortune of a man, was imposed. The people were arranged in classes
and paid twelve, eight, six, or four drachms according to their means.
The taxes were paid yearly in three instalments at intervals of
four months. Schedules of the taxes were drawn up, one of which
was kept at the royal chancery, one sent to each collector, and one
to each district-judge. The judges were priests and were charged
particularly with the duty of seeing that the collectors did not
exceed the tariff, and also, in cases where the crops had been
damaged, with the duty of remitting taxation to a proportionate
amount. The nobility, soldiers, priests, scribes, and others in the
royal service, were exempt from the poll-tax.8 They were sup-
posed to render their due to the State in other ways.
§ 6. Faridun had his capital in Mazandaran. See Vol. i. pp.
I77> 230. For the vegetation of that region, whirh is \\-v\ luxu-
riant, see Vol. ii. pp. 27, 31.
For the fortifications at Darband, see p. 187 and Vol. i. p. 16.
two accounts of Nushirwan's wall, us given in tin-
French translation, are as follows:— "Appete dans le pays d'El-
Bab et dans le Caucase par les incursions des rois du voisinage, il
b&tit sur le mer (Caspienne), a 1'aide rl'outres <lc cuir gonllees, une
muraille de rochers, qu'il consolida avec le fer et le plomb. Ces
outres s'enfoncaient dans 1'eau, a mesure que le construction
s'elevait; lorsqu'elles *' sur le fond et que la inuraill.
» See vol. vi. p. 24. * p. 183, note.
J44. A garib is said to have been equal to 3600 square
ells and a drachm to 88 centime*. Id. \<\>. -J IL'. 245, notes.
216 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
d^passa le niveau de 1'eau, des plongeurs, arme's de poignards et
de coutelas, creverent les outres ; la muraille, entrant profondt'-mont
dans le sol sous-inarin, atteignit alors la hauteur du rivage. Elle
existe encore aujourd'hui, en 332, l et toute la partie de cette
inuraille dont les assises plongent dans la mer est nomee el-kaid
{la chaine), parce qu'elle arrete les batiments enneniis qui ten-
teraient d'aborder sur cette cote. On continua le meine travail
le long d u rivage, entre le Caucase et le mer ; on pratiqua des
portes donnant sur le territoire infidele, et Ton prolongea la
muraille sur le mont Caucase, ainsi que nous 1'avons dit ci-dessus,
«n decrivant cette montagne et la ville d'El-Bab." 2
The other account referred to is this : — " Le Kabkh est une
grande chaine de mont agues qui renferme, dans sa vaste ctendue,
un nombre considerable de royaumes et de tribus: en effet, on
n'y compte pas moins de soixante et douze peuplades, qui out
chacune leur chef et parlent une langue qui leur est propre. Ces
montagnes sont sillonnees de gorges et de valises ; c'est a la tete
de 1'un de ces defiles que se trouve-la ville de Bab-el-Abwab, hatie
par Kosroes Enouchirwan, sur un point intermediate entre le pays
montueux et la mer des Khazars. Le meme souverain construisit
cette celebre inuraille qui, d'une part, s'avance dans la mer, jusqu'a
une distance d'environ un mille des cotes, et, d'autre part, s'eHeve
sur les sommets abruptes des montagnes et descend dans leur
gorges profondes, sur une longueur de quarante parasanges, jusqu'a
•ce qu'elle aboutisse h une place forte nominee Tabarestan. De
trois milles en trois milles ^i pen pres, suivant Pimportance de la
route sur laquelle elle s'ouvrait, il plac,a une porte de fer, pres
de laquelle il installa, dans 1'interieur de 1'enceinte, une peuplade
charged de veiller £t sa garde et a celle de la muraille. Ce rempart
devait opposer une barriere infra nchisable aux attaques des tribus
voisines du Kabkh, telles que les Khazars, les Alains, les Turcs, les
Serirs et les autres peuplades infideles." 3
One of the terms of peace made between Nuslrinvan and
Justinian, after the death of Kubad, was that Persia should be
paid the sum of eleven thousand pounds of gold towards the
maintenance of the defences in the Caucasus and should undertake
the actual defence herself.4
For Sikandar*s wall, built, according to the legend, with a similar
purpose, see Vol. vi. p. 163.
§ 7. Nushirwan's dealings with the Alans and the folk of Gilan
1 A.D. 943. • .MM, ii. 196.
3 Id., p. 1. * RSM, p. 382-
NUSHiRWAN 217
are historical, but Firdausi substitutes the Baluchi's, who made
themselves very troublesome in his time, for another tribe,
mentioned in his authorities but unknown to him, which dwelt
north of the Caucasus.1 It is very unlikely that any of the
Sasanian Shahs ever got as far East as Hindi
§§ 8-10. The accession of Nu-hirw:in found Persia and the
Eastern Roman Empire at war, but a year or two later he concluded
t was known as the " the endless peace " with Justinian. The
was somewhat unfortunate, as in A.D. 540 war again br.-ke out
:ig, according to Firdausi and Tabaii, to the treatment of
o of Hira (A.D. 505-554), by the Romans. He was
.irwan's protege^ and had a dispute with Harith bin Jabala,
tin- Ghassanian and Justinian's protege, about a pasturage for
sheep south of Palmyra. Harith, as Tabarf states, attacked Munzir,
made a great slaughter of his people, and carried off much booty.
Munzir appealed to Niishirwaii, who could get no accommodation
from Justinian, and war ensued between the two empires.*
Historically of course there were other reasons, one of the chief
being that Justinian, secured on his Persian frontier by the
"endless peace," had availed himself of the opportunity and the
services of Belisarius to extend and almost double his possessions
>n<iuests in the West. " Both his friends and his enemies said,
with hate or admiration, 'The whole earth cannot contain him;
he i- .d ready scrutinising the oether and the retreats beyond the
ocean, if he may win some new world.'"3 Justinian's success
threatened to upset the balance of power. Probably, too, there were
always '• pin-prirks" going on between the two empires.
§ ii. The Fire-temple visited by Nushirwaii before beginning his
;<aigu was probably not one at Tabriz but the more famous one
at what is now Takht-i-Suhiiinan, about one hundred miles to the
South. It w;is to this latter that the Sasanian Shdhs were wont to
resort at important epochs in their lives.4
It will l>e noticed that a Mihraii commands the centre of
Nushirwan's host— another instance of the prominent part played
by this family of Araacid descent in Sa.-anian times. Cf. p. 185.
§ 12. Crossing the Euphrates Nushirw:'m marched along its
western bank till he reached Sura, the (iieek ra £OIQCL and the
iau.-i, whi<'h was taken without ditlicuhy, sacked, and
burnt. The Shdh then advanced to Hierapolis, the Kum
• if the Shahnama, which was allowed to ransom it>i-lf t'.»r t\\o
'<otfe. » Li. r.u:i-, ,. 418.
» Id. * cf. |.|>. 5, 86. 94.
218 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
thousand pounds of silver.1 Hierapolis sounds somewhat like
Aniyish, which means "ornament," so it would seem that the
poet converted the name of that city into Arayish-i-Rum or
"Ornament of Riirn."
§ 13. On leaving this city Nushirwan, according to Firdausi,
encountered and defeated a Riiman army led by Farfiiriyus.
Historically, the Persians in their advance on Antioch, in the course
of which they held Chalybon-Beroea (Aleppo) to ransom, appear to
have been unopposed. The occupation of Kaliniyus (Callinicus)
did not take place till the third campaign (A.D. 543) when the city
made no resistance, and the inhabitants were led away captive.
It was situated on the eastern bank of the Euphrates. In A.D. 531,
however, Belisarius, after foiling an attempt of a combined force of
Persians and Arabs to raid Antioch, was worsted in a battle at
Callinicus ; so the two campaigns ' may have become confused in
tradition. Germanus, Justinian's nephew, had been at Antioch
before the Persians reached and stormed it in A.D. 540, but had
withdrawn as he considered the existing fortifications could not
be held with success. The taking of Antakiya (Antioch) was
Niishirwan's crowning achievement in this his first campaign
against Rum, and he returned home by another route, compelling
various cities to ransom themselves on his way. Farfiiriyus is
probably Firdausi's rendering of a Byzantine title. Belisarius took
no part in the campaign of A.D. 540 ; he only returned from Italy
in that year.
§ 14. That Nushirwan built a new Antioch on the Tigris, not far
from Ctesiphon, as a residence for his Roman captives is no doubt
historical, though we need not commit ourselves to Tabari's state-
ment that the new town was so exactly a reproduction of the
original that the captives, on arriving, went to their own houses as
naturally as if they never had left home.2 The cordwainer from
Callinicus would be a later arrival.3 The new Antioch was also
known as Rvimiya or " The Riiman " and by other names.
§ 15. Negotiations for peace had been going on even during the
first year of the war, though they came to nothing, but five years later
a suspension of hostilities was agreed upon for five years. Justinian
had to give Niishirwdn two thousand pounds of gold.4 Firdausi
does not carry the story of the war further. Peace was made, after
the resumption of the war which was followed by another five
years' truce, definitively in A.D. 562.
1 RSM, p. 387. 2 NT, p. 165.
3 See above. * RSM, pp. 391 seq., 404.
NUSHIRWAN 219
§§ 16-19. The revolt of Niish/ad, u Immortal-born," is historical,
and the circumstances attending it may be stated fairly correctly
perhaps as follows. He seems to have been Niishirwan's eldest son,
and to have been brought up as a Christian by his mother, who was
in that Shah's seraglio and of course a Christian herself. On
account of his religion, or for some other reason, he was interned
liy his father at Gund-i-Shapur,1 which contained a strong Christian
element and was the seat of the Nestorian Metropolitan — the next
in rank to the Patriarch.1 When the news, false as it turned out,
of his father's death reached him he had every reason to bestir him-
self. In the circumstances there was a likelihood of his being
passed over in the matter of the succession. His father's known
disapproval, the rivalry of his brothers, and his own religion, were
obstacles which had to be faced promptly if at all, while as the
eldest-born it was only natural that he should aspire to the vacant
throne. At the time when his rising occurred (A.D. 551) there was
a five years' truce in force between Persia and the Eastern Roman
Empire, so it is not likely that he got much help from that quarter.
Probably Justinian never heard of the affair till it was all over.
The Christian inhabitants of Gund-i-Shapur naturally would
support Nushzad, and it is interesting to find that the leader of his
troops is Shammas — a word meaning a Christian priest or deacon.
The general Persian opinion of Christians is shown by the word
" tarsa," which means a Christian because its primary meaning is
"cowardly," but it does not appear that Firdausi shared that view ;
on the contrary, when obviously putting his own words into the
mouths of his characters, he treats the Church militant, especially
the episcopacy, with much respect.8 It is very unlikely therefore
that the derogatory words concerning Christianity in the utterances
r\van and Pirn/, were the poet's own. Neither are they
characteristically Muhammadan. Firdausi found them in his
authorities translated from the Pahlavi. Historically, Nu>h/;id does
appear to have fallen in the fight: he fell into his father's
hands, was blinded probably, Lmpruoaed(and disappeared from his-
Tlie concluding scene of the story may be regarded therefore
as the poet's own contribution to it. There is nothing polemical
there, but all is characterised by dignity and good feeling.4
» See \..l. M. \>. 295. « NT, j.. II.
• e.g. Y..I. ,. ,,. ft* </.. loot tin- p.u.iMr of the. kerchiefs \\lnn-
Christianity ia meant l>\ tin •• Faith winch is described as
being "gcx'.i. y,,|. v.. ,,. 95.
r Ntohzad generally see M \ »•-:
220 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
The Prelude
" O lofty Cypress, thou that ravishest
The heart ! oh ! wherefore art thou thus opprest
With pleasure, Grace, and luxury aflear
Why is thine ardent heart fulfilled with fear ? "
Said to the questioner the Cypress-tree :—
" I was in joy ere age o'ermastered me.
I yield me to the puissance of three-score,
Forbear then and contend therewith no more,
For it hath dragon's breath and lion's claw,
And whomsoe'er it flingeth it will gnaw.
It hath the might of wolf, and thunder-breath,
In one hand care and in the other death.
It maketh stoop the Cypress that subdued
All hearts, it maketh jasmine amber-hued ;
It giveth saffron's tint to cercis-bloom,
And, after saffron's tint, a toilful doom.
The runner's foot is bound though fetterless,
The precious body turned to wretchedness ;
The lustrous pearls begin to fail with me,
And stoopeth too the noble cypress-tree ;
My melancholy eyes bewail and run
Through their debility and travail done ;
My blithe, glad heart is full of pain, and thus
These days of mine have grown ungenerous.
Or ever man is weaned his death is nigh,
And people call him old ! The sovereignty
Of Nushirwan was forty years and eight ;
To look for youth at sixty is too late
For thee, so seek an end to thine affairs,
And wound thy heart no more by gainful cares."
1 There is no break here in the original.
§ 2
How yiishirwdn ascended the Throne and made an Oration
to the Iranians
When Xushirw&n * assumed the ivory throne,
And donned the crown — the lustre of the heart —
L,rreat men of t he world were gathered there
What time the Shah sat with his counsellors.
That chief of famous men then loosed his tongue,
Invoked the righteous Giver of all good,
And said : "Be our hearts filled with praise and love
Toward the almighty Ruler of the sky.
From whom are good and ill, fame and desire,
By whom I am made sorrowful and glad,
Of whom are Grace and strength. By His command
The sun is bright in heaven. We will not quit
His counsels and His covenant, or reckon
Our breaths but at His bidding. He that doth
That which is just upon the throne of power
Will have fruition of good fortune here ;
But he that harboureth an ill intent 0. 1619
Will bring disaster on himself at last.
What. « r ye ask of us we will reply,
And in our answer will advise you well.
None wotteth of the secrets of the heart ;
That is a way too strait for me to find ;
Hut Mill it justice be the Shah's employ
It surely will rejoice the hearts of all.
Delay not till the morrow this day's \\(.rk ;
How know'st thou \\hat to-morrow will brini: forth '.
oeary in bloom to-day will have
But worthless llo\\» rs ,'rr thrr to cull to-morro\\ .
In day^ \\lien thou art hair he not unmindful
Of malady, of suffering, and of loss ;
in the original, 1-ut henceforth >v. v.ritr Nu-l.i
222 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Think of the day of death which closeth life,
And how with death we are as leaves with wind.
When thou art slack to act thou makest all
Thy policy unsound. When envy swayeth
The heart of man no leech can cure that ache.
When passion mastereth wisdom is't not proof
Of madness ? Furthermore none honoureth
The quarrelsome and talkative. The path
That leadeth thee to guile is gloomier,
To right is straiter. Skilful as thou art,
If thou art lazy and perfunctory
Thy work will turn out ill. Whene'er the tongue
Is wedded to deceit it hath no lustre
From heavenly fortune. Feckless folk resort
To lying, and we can but weep for such.
Whenas the Shah is first to rise from slumber
He will be safe from foes and hale of body.
Be wise and have withal enough to eat,
But more than this is anguish, toil, and greed.
Whenas a Shah is just and liberal
The world is full of goodness and of peace,
But if he thwarteth justice in its course
He eateth colocynth and drinketh blood.
All ye in this assembly ! hear what I
Proclaim to you, learn it, observe it well,
And all your years fare side by side with fortune :
Full many a crowned monarch have we scanned,
And our choice is the path of right and wisdom ;
Yet must ye listen to my minister,
For good and ill appear not save through him.1
Whoever cometh to this court of mine
With just cause whether in or out of season,
No minister of mine will I approve
That keepeth such a matter hid from me.
As for the officers about my court,
* Reading with P.
NVSHJRWAN 223
And valiant cavaliers among my troops,
A> \vo stint not the stipend due to them
So must they tender mine own name and fame.
Let all be done humanely and uprightly C. 1620
Without defect of justice. Every one,
That, being an Iranian, girdcth him
To do his service in this court of ours,
Shall have both treasure and kind words from us
If he shall prove a shrewd and modest servant ;
But if his underlings shall be oppressed,
<1 he shall be unwise and fear not God,
I i« ^hall be punished for his wickedness,
And we should grieve not o'er the fall of one
So despicable. Keep within your hearts
The laws of holy God and fear not us,
For He is King of kings, Lord of the world,
Victorious, and One whose word is law,
The Illu miner of crown and sun and moon,
Who showeth us the way of righteousness.
Lord of the world is He, the Judge of judges,
And higher than the thoughts of every man.
He hath created heaven, space, and time,
And hath adorned our souls and hearts with love.
H< is the Guard of crown and lofty throne,
i \\ h« ii thou seekest help will succour thee.
'Tis He hath fired your hearts with love of us,
1 1'* will hath blinded, heart and eye, our foes.
Well-being is all subject to His hest,
All goodness undtTnraih His providence.
All from the stubble to the seventh heaven —
Air. fire, and water, and our gloomy earth —
Bear witness to His being and afford
Thereof a clear assurance to thy soul.
Whati-Vr ue praise is under His < •mmnand,
ill our worship dedicate to 1 1 ; 1 1 1 . "
224 THE SHAHXAMA OF FIRDAUSI
When Nushirwan had spoken all the world
Was lost in wonder at him. To their feet
All rose with praise anew the Shah to greet.
§3
How Nushinvdn divided his Realm into four Parts and wrote
a Decree to his Officers on the Administration of Justice
The king of kings called unto him the wise,
And settled the affairs of all the world.
The world itself he parted into four,
Assigning that which was inhabited.
He first of all for Khurasan took thought,
And rilled thereby the nobles' hearts with joy.
The second part was Kum and Ispahan—
The seat of magnates and the place of chiefs —
Wherewith Azar Abadagan, whereon
The Iranians lavished offerings, was comprised.
That Shah of wary heart l included too
Armenia up to Ardabil and Gil.
C. 1621 The third from east to west was formed of Pars,
Ahwaz, and of the marches of Khazar.
'Irak together with the land of Rum
Came fourth — a splendid realm and populous —
And in these marches to the indigent,
Who had to toil to satisfy their needs,
The Shah made largess of his hoarded treasures,
And all folk blessed him.
Now of former Shahs —
Shahs greater or inferior to himself —
All had required a portion of the crops,
And no man thitherto had 'scaped the tax.
The royal portion was a third or fourth
1 Reading with P.
NUSHIRWAN 225
Until Kubad came and required a tenth.
He meant to have reduced it further still,
And strove to make the lowly like the lord,
But fortune gave him not the time.1 Whilst thou
Art in the stream ne'er trust the crocodile.
The crown of worship came to \ushir\van.
And he remitted all the tenth forthwith.
The sages, chiefs, great men, and archimages,
The shrewd of heart, assembled — all the rulers.
They had the land partitioned and surveyed,
And laid thereon a land-tax of one drachm
So that the owners might not be distressed.
All that lucked seed or beust, when they should be
Preparing for the crops, were subsidised
Out of the treasure of the king of kings
So that they might not let the ground lie fallow.
Land, if untilled. was left out of account ;
The previous usages were done away.
On each six fruiting vines a drachm was levied,
Date-palm plantations paid an equal tax,
While each ten stems of olives and of walnuts.
And other trees that bear their fruit in autumn,
Brought one drachm to the treasury, and this
Was made the only burden of the year.
To fruits that ripened in the month Khurdad
No heed was paid in taxing. From the men
Of means who neither owned nor tilled the soil
The tax-collector every year received
A paymeni \;iryiiiLr t'min ten drachms to four ;
But no nne was oppressed because the money
Was paid in three instalments annually,
I thu> a third part of the tax was paid
tour months to the exrhequer of the Shah.
The nival M-rilx s and otVieers employed
Within the t axintr-oHiee passed all count.
f. ]>. 183, note.
\<>i.. vn i-
226 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
The Shah had these above-named tolls and imposts
Recorded by the archmages in three ledgers,
Whereof he gave one to the treasurer,
And made that minister account for it ;
The second was for sending through the realm
To all officials and the men in power ;
c. 1622 The third was handed to the archimages
To keep account of all the revenue.
All that concerned tax, toll, and husbandry
Was done by order of the Shah himself,
And he had agents scattered everywhere
To keep him cognisant of good and ill.
He filled with justice all the face of earth,
And cultivated all the barren lands ;
Both great and small slept safely on the waste,
And sheep and wolf came to one trough. He bade
To draw up in the olden tongue a letter —
One that will pleasure thee to hear from me.
It thus began : " From Nushirwan, the chief—
The king of kings, the worshipper of God,
A Bough fruit-bearing from the Tree Kubad—
Who hath assumed the crown of majesty,
And in especial prospered all the land,
For God, the just Judge, gave him Grace divine,
To all the officers of revenue —
Thralls of the shadow of our Grace and throne —
Our well weighed greetings unto you whose birth
Hath been exceeded by your own deserts.
Here at the outset of our task we first
Give praises to the Maker of the world.
Know that the man is wise and shrewd of heart,
Whose praise is of the righteous Judge of earth,
Well knowing that He hath no need of us,
And that all secrets are revealed to Him,
Who when He willeth to exalt a man
First maketh him superior to all want.
227
He bade me judge, but He is Judge Himself,
And higher than all height eternally.
In God's sight king and subject are as one,
And saving service none hath aught to do ;
From the abyss of earth to heaven above,
And from tin- sun to dark and sorry dust,
The ant's foot beareth witness that He is,
That we are bondslaves and that He is king.
All His commands to us are righteousness ;
- the Div that causeth lies and loss.
Now if my portion of the spacious world
Had been a garden only, park, and palace,
My heart had chosen naught but love and justice,
And kept a smiling face f<jr everything ;
Hut now the* expanse of all the world throughout
From east to west hath God, the Holy One,
Bestowed upon me as my sovereignty —
All from the bright sun to the darksome dust—
And I must practise naught save love and justice
Although I furrow mine own face thereby.
If careless be the shepherd and the waste
Thus vast the sheep will 'scape not from the wolf.
As for my subjects, whether country-folk
Or t hose devoted to the Cult of Fire,
Be they in drouthy dust or ship at sea
Lay or night alike, 01 be they merchants,
Engaged in voyaging <>\t r wet and dry C. 1623
With monies and with lustrous pearls and musk,
The sun must shine not from the arch of heaven
Upon tlr in >a\v in justice and in love.
X«>\v this hath been the custom of our race
That son should have his father's crown and this
The world hath recognised as just and right
\\ ith one consent in public and in private.
We have imposed a land tax and a tree-tax
For suMcniaiion of the tlimne and crown.
228 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Now when they bring this letter to you may
Urmuzd prove fortunate to you. Whoever
Herein transgresseth by a single drachm,
Or doth injustice for a single breath,
I swear by God, who hath bestowed upon me
The diadem of Grace, that I will saw
That man in twain ; such is God's chastisement
On those whose evil seed hath come to fruit.
Observe this letter and this ordinance,
And turn not from the glorious Way and Faith.
Demand with justice and with courtesy
The instalment of the tax due each four months ;
But where the. locusts have been ravaging,
Or sunbeams beaten on the parched -up earth,
Or where the blast or lightning of high heaven
Hath brought disaster on the cultured fields,
Or if rain falleth not at the New Year,
So that the jocund crops are vexed with drought,
Demand no tax upon those fields and crops,
Because the spring-clouds have not watered them,
And pay the seed sown and the labourers' hire
Back to the farmers from the treasury.
The lands whose owner is deceased and hath
No kith and kin must lie not waste, for they
Are underneath the shadow of the Shah ;
Else will the foe make scorn of my resources
With such a pretext ready to his hand.
Give what is needed from the treasury,
For God hath set me out of reach of need.
If lands within my power lie desolate,
Unsheltered by the shadow of my wing,
Whoe'er he be that is responsible,
And doth neglect the task, hard though it be,
Him, whether lord or underling, will I
Hang from the gibbet on the spot. The great—
The Shahs of yore — had other usages,
NVSHIRWAN 229
With t heir officials rested ri»rht and wrong,
The world lay open to the cavaliers,
Who wantonly mocked \\ i-dom and ne'er rested
Fi< >ni adding to their wealth. My wealth is justice ;
The people of the land compose my host ;
I will not cast a glance upon dinars.
To win by equity the world's regard,
And to respect the worth of men of birth,
Are dearer to me than the wealth of foes C. 1624
That seek to win my kingdom and my throne.
_viieral that selleth men for gold
Shall get no entry to my court whereat
They aiv . <. med that follow justice, love,
L-iw and the Way. When my shrewd officers
Assemble at the office of the archmage,
And falsehood showeth in the words of any,
ll« shall receive no grace from us henceforth.
1 do not love the man that is unjust ;
Th«- leopard and the oppressor are as one.
All they that have- ensued the way of God,
And bathed their dark souls in the stream of wisdom,
1 have a lofty station at our court,
High estimation with the archimages,
And from their God for that which they have sown
Th<- recompense of jocund Paradise.
We are ourselves exempt from need of \\ealth
Whereby the soul is minished and accursed.
Jlf that doth eat the flesh <>t mendicants
Will find, no doubt, some nurture in their skins.
A pard is Letter t han a king like that,
Who hath no modesty, no rule, no Faith.
way of right is open to us. Why
At in folly on the door of lose ?
To do ill closely, just iee openly.
the tame thereof may eomu to US,
Will have not God's approval, or be In Id
230 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
In high consideration at our court ;
But he hath God's approval and our own
Whose love and justice are as warp and woof."
If thou art just, 0 monarch ! thou wilt give
The world a record of thee that will live,
For every one will praise eternally
The Shah that brought the world prosperity.
§4
How Nushirwdn required Bdbak to muster the Host
Of all the Shahs that erst had throne and crown,
And had been great in treasure and in troops,
There was not one more just than Nushirwan,
And may his soul be young for evermore.
None was more worshipful for manhood, throne,
For diadem and knowledge. He possessed
An archimage, Babak by name, a man
Of wisdom, shrewd of heart, and fortunate,
Made him the muster-master of the host,
And bade him to prepare himself an office
Of ample size before the palace -gate,
And higher than its top, and furnish it
C. 1625 With carpets that were worthy of a king
To seat the clerks engaged upon the work.
A proclamation issued from his office,
And all the folk gave ear : " Famed warriors !
Mount and attend the portal of the Shah,
All ye that would have guerdon at his hands !
With iron helmets set upon your heads,
Arrayed in mail and bearing ox-head maces."
The troops came to the office of Babak,
The air was darkened by the horsemen's dust.
Now when Babak reviewed the host he missed l
1 Reading with P.
NUSHIRWAN 231
The standard and the chief of all the noble.
He left the office, mounted on his steed,
And bade the soldiers go back to their quarters.
The turning sky continued on its course,
And when the radiant sun displayed its face
It was proclaimed before the palace-gate : —
" Ye mace-men of the army of Iran !
Go all in full array with arms and bows
And lassos to the office of Babak."
They wrnt with lances, helms, and coats of mail ;
The army's dust ascended to the clouds.
Babak looked round upon the host but, since
The Shah appeared not in his Grace and state,
Thus spake : " Return glad and victorious
In love and duty, each man to his quarters."
Again the third day rose the proclamation : —
;* Ye men of name, of Grace divine and wisdom !
Let there not be one horseman of this host
Without his helmet and cuirass of war,
And let him come and pass before this gat e .
And see his name upon the muster-roll.
Let those that are distinguished by a crown.
By Grace, by majesty, and lofty fortunes,
Know that this muster is without respect
Of persons, reticence, and modesty."
The king of kings gave ear thereto and heeded
The proclamation from B&bak's divan.
Then smiling called for coat of mail ai'd helm.
And held erect the flag of majesty.
The Shah, with iron helmet on his head,
Proceeded to the office of Babak.
Tin- chain-mail him^ down from his Human helm,
TOM srcuivd hy many a fastening,
hin his hand h<- had an ox-head mace,
Within hi> belt four shafts of popiar-\\ood,
A bow on arm and las o on the saddle.
232 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
While round his loins he had a golden girdle.
He urged his charger, gripping with his thighs,
And laid the massive mace upon his shoulder ;
Then, lightly wheeling both to left and right,
Displayed both steed and rider to Babak,
Who when he had inspected them approved,
And, having come up to the king of kings,
1626 Said thus to him : " O Shah ! mayst thou be blessed
May wisdom be the provand of thy soul !
Thou hast adorned the kingdom's face with justice,
Such that with us 'tis thy memorial.
What I have said was boldness from a slave,
But never must thou turn from what is just ;
So now, I prithee, wheel thee to the right
With all the skill whereof thou art the master."
Then Nushirwan again urged on his steed
To right and left as 'twere Azargashasp.
Babak looked on amazed and oft invoked
The Maker of the world. A horseman's pay
Ran from a thousand to two thousand drachms ;
Four thousand were the most that any had.
Babak paid to the Shah just one drachm more.
Then from the office-door 'twas cried : " Exhibit
The charger of the first of warriors —
The horseman of the world, the famous Shah,"
While Nushirwan laughed heartily, for fortune
Was young with him and he a youthful king.
Now when Babak had left the royal office
He came before the noble Shah and said : —
" Great Shah ! if I,. thy slave, made bold to-day
The purpose of my heart was right and just :
Let not the Shah take notice of my harshness ;
It is not harshness to discharge one's duty,
And blest is he who meant not to be harsh."
" 0 man of wisdom ! " said the Shah to him,
" Keep thyself ever in the path of right,
NtiSHIRWAN 233
Whereof thou break's! the heart by self-regard.
Know that thou art the dearer in mine eyes ;
But mine anxiety is for myself—
llo\v. when the army is engaged in fight,
1 shall comport myself upon the field."
Babak made answer to the noble Shah : —
crown and signet will behold thy like,
While painter hath observed not limned in hall
A hand and rein like thine. O king ! Oh ! may
HiL'h heaven accord to thee thy full desire,
Oh ! may thy heart be glad, thyself unscathed ! "
Thus to the archimage said Nushirwan : —
" Our justice shall make old folk young again.
The king must leave as his memorial
Within the world but righteousness alone.
What need have we for such a treasury,
Such toil and greed, and to confine our soul
Within this Wayside Inn ? The need, since here
Is no abiding, is to eat and drink.
I have been troubled with the world's affairs,
Although I kept these matters to myself,
Because my royal crown hath enemies.
And Ahriman doth compass me about.
M< thought : * I will bring troops from every -ido,
And summon warriors from every province,
But for the levy I have need of treasure, C. 1627
Which I have Imt to labour to amass ;
Still if this bringeth evil on the poor
I must refrain my heart from this desire.'
• ilvcd this matter in my heart,
And. having conic upon a wise resolve,
I wrote a Inter to the paladins,
Tin- mighty men. and prudent archimag-
Tp all the nobles and the potentates
In all the provinces, and thus it ran : —
' All ye jx.ssessed of \\ i-d-.m and ,,f sense !
234 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
Bring up your sons for military service,
Dispatch them to the field equipped for war,
And look to me for honour and reward.
They must be able to distinguish hand
And rein from stirrup on the hills and dales,
And learn to battle with the enemy
With mace and scimitar, with bow and arrow,
Because a youth unskilled availeth naught
Although he be descended from Arish.' 1
The muster-master went forth from the court,
With money for the chiefs, to every province,
And now in sooth I have adorned the face
Of earth with men prepared to take the field.
I have more knowledge, policy, and method
Than former Shahs, and greater armaments."
The archmage, when he heard the Shah speak thus,
CaUed praises down upon the crown and throne.
The payment was delayed for forty days,
And then the athelings, equipped for war,
Went to the office and received their pay
While joyance was the order of the day.
§5
How Nushirwdn harangued the Iranians, and how the
Kings acknowledged his Supremacy
Now when the sun displayed its shining face,
When circling heaven unlocked the garden-gate,
And when the Mound of Fenugreek appeared
While dark night's tresses vanished, Nushirwan,
All smiles, glad-hearted, and of youthful fortune,
Sat on his throne, while all that sought redress
Flocked to his court. The king harangued them
thus : —
1 For whom see Vol. v. D. 12.
NUSHfRWAN 235
" Acknowledge that ye have not any helper
8 o holy God, the Lord of all, our Guide,
Who leadeth us in both worlds by the hand.
Fear not the throne and crown, the court is open
To all, and ye soe'er that come thereto
1>\ day and night keep not your lips from speech.
It we are quaffing wine in company,
( >r busk-d with advisers, or at polo,
Or on the hunting-field, the way is open C. 1628
F<>r you to us. Let access be withheld
From none because I am asleep, awake,
At work or play. Let none of you withdraw
From us to sleep with wants unsatisfied.
My heart will be rejoiced and bright whenever
I break the travail of the oppressed. Please God,
No officer of mine, no man at arms,
Xo servitor, shall sleep with heart aggrieved,
For from his grievance harm will come on me.
However trifling or obscure the matter
The Mak.T will require it at my hands.
For tolls and imposts, other than the archmages
Are now concerned with in mine offices,
No gold or silver shall l>e asked of you.
So sleep all unafraid of me henceforth.
Then sunward from the face of earth applause
Rose from the hall : " May Nushirwan have Grace,
And all his years the crown of king of kings !
Ne'er may the throne, the state, and famous crown
Of sovereignty be void of him ! "
They went
Their \\;> ; mid ivjnirin^. and earth's face
(iivw like the garden of Irani.1 Thou hadst not
Seen any one despondent in the world,
While from the clouds came seasonable ram,
\\.-ild resembled jocund Paradise,
1 Sec Vol. i. p. 100.
236 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
The clouds sowed tulips in the pleasances,
The dales, the plains, and orchards shone like lamps,
The uplands were like garths, garths like the sun.
Thereafter tidings came to Rum and Hind : —
" fran is like fine painted silk of Rum ;
The Shah hath decked with armaments and justice
The earth till it is like the shining moon.
No one in all the world doth know the sum
Of all his forces save the Shah himself.
They all are blithe of heart and dight for war,
Have fame and glory and illume the world."
The kings of all the realms were sore amazed
At heart ; their souls were dark through Nushinvan.
Ambassadors arrived from Hind and Chin,
And all kings called down praises on the Shah ;
They saw that they could counter not his might,
And hasted to pay tribute with good will,
Bare them as underlords to Nushirwan,
And gathered slaves and purses for his service.
With golden maces and with golden crowns
The envoys went upon their way. They reached
The court -gate of the monarch of the world,
And brought the toll and tribute of their lords.
The court appeared adorned like Paradise
Through all those purses, slaves, and audience-seekers.
Thus for a while the heavens turned above,
Consorting with the Iranian king in love.
§ 6
How Nushirwan went round his Empire and built a Wall
in the Pass between Iran and Turdn
c. 1629 Then Nushirwan, the wise, made this resolve —
That he would sojourn for a while abroad
237
To make the circuit of the jocund world,
And bring whatever was hidden to the light.
He beat the kettledrums, marched forth the host,
And sun and moon were both astound at him.
What with the troops and jewels, gold and silver,
The golden girdles and the golden shields,
Thou wouldst have said : " No gold is left within
The mines, no gems or lustrous pearls remain !
He led his host toward Khurasan at leisure.
All heedful of Sasanian precedent.
Whenever he passed settlements he pitched
>amp and camp-enclosure on the waste,
And win -n the blare of clarions rose there went
A herald first afoot who thus proclaimed : —
* Ye subjects of the monarch of the world !
Is any privily aggrieved at us ?
Sleep not despairing of the Shah, allow not
Your souls to fail with care."
He led the host
Tli us to Gurgan and bare with him the crown
And throne of chiefs. Know, justice is no loss :
Shahs should have prowess, rede, and noble birth.
Now when the nightingales were full of song
\\ent thence toward Sari and toward Amul,
Where hill and plain were cloth<d with forest-trees,
\Vhidi tilled the Iranian monarch's heart with thought .
11- left the plain and mounting to the height s.
St ill sealed on his Arab bay looked out
O'er mountain and o'er forest, and observed
Rose, hyacinth and game, and water then
And thus he said : " O Thou almighty Judi
The World-lord, Conqueror, and Foster. -r '
Thou art the Maker of the sun and moon.
The ( iinde and the Revealer of the way.
Thou mad'st the world of such delightsomeness
That \vcdistinguish not 'twill earth and Heaven.
238 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Whoe'er shall worship any save Thyself
Will send his soul to Hell. It was for this
That pious Faridun forwent Iran,
And made his dwelling here, so passing fair
Is this place and delightsome to the heart,
Where water is rose-water and the soil
Is spicery."
One said : "0 righteous judge !
If this were not a highway for the Turkmans
Our hearts would be not empty of delight,
Such are the wealth and glory of this place ;
But as it is we cannot raise our necks
For constant murders, sack, and harryings.
C. 1630 There are not many left or even few
Of fowl or men or cattle on this spot.
This is the only route between the realms,
And causeth loss to the Iranian folk.
There came much toil and strife in former times,
But then the Turkmans' route was through Kharazm.
Now for the merchant or the thane to raise
His head would be in vain. However, now
That thou hast led an army to these parts,
Avert this ill from us and bar the way.
Thy treasures will be more, not less, thereby :
Now is the time to render us a service."
The Shah, whenas he heard the suppliant,
Showered tear-drops from his eyes and thereupon
Addressed his minister and said to him : —
" A very grievous toil confront eth us.
Henceforth 'tis not for us to fare and feast,
Or even tender our own crown, for God
Will sanction not the wrong in us that we
Shall be in happiness while thanes are grieving.
Such mountains as these are, such spacious plains,
All fit for gardens, grounds, and palaces,
And filled with cattle, game, and running water,
NVSH1RWAN 239
So that the soul is freshened by tin- sight —
We must not let the Turkmans lay them waste,
And desolate the country of tan.
.My kingly office, prudence, policy,
Humanity itself, will brook it not.
Men \\ill invoke not blessings on our heads
What time Iran is lying desolate."
H<- bade his minister : " From Hind and Rum
Select men famous in those cultured lands
From all the provinces, foreseeing men,
Such masters in their craft as thou canst find.
And build me from the sea a lofty wall,
On broad foundations and ten lassos high,
Of stone and mortar, starting from the deep,
And rising to the fountain of the sun.
In this way surely we shall form a bar,
And loss from foes will come not on tan.
Use no forced labour, ope our treasury,
And pay to every one what he demandeth.
The labourer, the thane, and man of birth
Must not be incommoded by the blast."
He made An old archmage the overseer,
And shut out all the desert by the wall,
Wherein they set a mighty iron door,
And all the flock grew fearless of the wolf.
Of frontier-guards he stationed many a post,
i having made all safe, led on the host.
§7
I low Nushinodn chastised1 tin- Alans and the Men of
Baluch and Gttdn
Thence from the sea lie went tm\;ml tin C. 1631
And finding then- a ravaged, barren march
1 Litrrally, " rubbed the oars of."
240 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
He thus addressed his chiefs : " It is a shame
For regions in fran to lie thus waste,
And we must suffer not our foes to say so."
He chose an envoy from among the troops,
One, as was fitting, wise and eloquent,
To wrhom he said : " Depart hence with the dawn,
And say thus to the marchlords of yon folk : —
' From mine intelligencers have I heard
All that hath passed in public and in private,
And that ye say : " Why fear we Nushirwan ?
As for Iran it is a pinch of dust."
Now have we come anigh you and set up
Our camp, our camp-enclosures, and our court.
Your wastes are spacious and your mountains high,
Your troops are armed with arrow, mace, and lasso.
Your gorges are the place for ambuscades,
Land, mountain, field and fell, are all your own.
We — general and soldiers — challenge you,
We who are strangers in a foreign land.' '
The envoy went his way and spake the words
Dictated by the monarch of fran.
The host of the Alans assembled — all .
The great, the sages, and the counsellors —
A host that found employ in pillaging,
And recked but little for the Iranians,
fran was wont to stand in awe of them ;
Folk had no raiment, gold, or silver left,
And men and women with their babes and beasts
Were wont to quit their homes and seek the plains.
The envoy told the Alans, withholding naught,
The message of the monarch of the world,
Whereat the faces of the chiefs grew black ;
The words of Nushirwan amazed their hearts.
The great men and the chieftains of that march
Went forth with contributions and much tribute,
With slaves and raiment, and with gold and silver,
NVSHfRWAN 241
And many a noble steed, while of the folk
All that were men of years and eloquen
And wisdom-seekers, came to Nushirwan,
Bewailing their past doings. When they reached
The tent -enclosure of the Shah with presents,
And gifts, they cried and wallowed in the dust,
ir eyes fulfilled with tears, their hearts with blood.
For shame and self-excusing is no need C. 1632
When wisdom and the valiant are agreed.
TliL' prudent Shah was gracious unto them,
And pardoned all that they had done amiss ;
11 ordered that upon the wasted lands —
The lurking-place of lion and of leopard—
y should erect a city with all speed,
With room for sowing and for harvesting.
The whole surrounded by a lofty wall
That ill might not befall from enemies.
Alans made answer to the noble king,
And said : " With earrings on as slaves of thine,
And, as the Shah hath bidden, we will raise
ramparts of a noble seat."
The Shah
Marched thence to Hindustan and sojourned th<
At his commandment all folk came to him,
Came seeking to ingratiate themselves,
And i'nr two miles beside the Indus-bank
0 horses, elephants, brocade, and coin.
The great men all with honesty of h<
And loyalty appeared before the Shall.
Who questioned them and \\vll entreated them.
And placed them in accordance to their r;
1 j< >cund heart i
Troops, steeds, and elephants fulfilled the world.
his way, and tidings camo to him :
.0 world is wasted by the Baluchfs,
Till from exceeding slam llaging,
VOL. MI. Q*
242 THE SHAHNAAfA OF FIRDAUSI
And harrying, the earth is overwhelmed,
But greater ruin cometh from Gil an,
And curses banish blessings."
Then the heart
Of Nushirwan, the Shah, was sorrowful,
And grief commingled with his joy. He said
To the Iranians : " The Alans and Hind
Were, in their terror of our scimitars,
Like silk. Now our own realm is turned against us
Shall we hunt lions and forgo the sheep ? "
One said to him : " The garden hath no rose
Without a thorn, 0 king ! So too these marches
Are ever troublesome and treasure-wasting.
As for Baluch the glorious Ardshir
Tried it with all his veteran officers,
But all his stratagems and artifices,
His feints, his labours, arms, and fighting failed,
And though the enterprise succeeded ill
He cloaked the failure even to himself."
This story of the thane enraged the Shah,
Who went upon his way toward Baluch.
Now when he drew anear those lofty mountains
He went around them with his retinue,
And all his host encircled them about,
And barred the passage e'en to wind and ant.
The troops, like ants and locusts, occupied
The mountain -outskirts to the sandy desert.
€.1633 A herald went his rounds about the host,
Proclaiming from the mountains, caves, and plains :-
" Whene'er the Baluchis are seeking food,
If they be warriors and carry arms,
However many or however few,
Let not a single one of them escape."
The troops, ware of the anger of the Shah,
Stopped every outlet with their horse and foot ;
Few of the Baluchis or none survived,
NVSHIRWAN 243
No women, children, warriors, were left.
All of them perished by the scimitar,
And all their evil doings had an end,
The world had quiet from their ravaging :
No Baluchi, seen or unseen, remained,
While on their mountains, so it came to pass,
The herds thenceforward strayed without a guard ;
Alike on waste and lofty mountain -top
The sheep required no shepherd. All the folk
Around thought nothing of past sufferings,
And looked on vale and mountain as their home.
Thence toward Gil an marched Nushirwan, for there,
And in Dflani, was trouble manifest.
The army stretched from sea to mountain-top,
The air was full of flags, the earth of troops.
The army was extended round Gflan,
And light departed from the sun and moon.
Thus spake the Shah : " Among the small and great
No trace of Wolf and Lion must be left."
So mighty was the slaughter hi the land
That all the region's face was bathed in blood.
At all t ho slaying, pillaging, and burning
The men and women sent up wails of woe.
On every side the slain were piled in heaps,
The grasses smirched with brains. The warriors —
The just, the prudent and the men of weight —
lining in Gilan bound their own hands,
And with their women-folk behind, their children
Before them, came lamenting to the king
With bosoms rent and dust upon their heads.
They all assembled at the monarch's court
With IM, unden hands and wounded bodies, saying : —
" We have turned back upon our evil courses ;
( )h ! that th<- Shah \\<>uld cease from his displeasure !
It h<- is vexed at heart against Gflan
We will behead ourselves with our own hands.
244 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
It may be that the Shah then will relent
When he shall see the heaps of severed heads."
When such a cry rose from the court, and when
The Shah had listened to their supplication,
He pardoned them ; the past was blotted out,
But he required two hundred hostages
Both from Gilan and from Dilam that none
Thereafter might pursue the path of ill.
He left a paladin with them to stay,
And, having ordered all things, marched away.
§8
How Munzir, the Arab, came to Nushirwdn for Succour
against the Injustice of Ccesar
0. 1634 Next from Gilan he marched toward Mada'iii,
Not knowing his troops' number or extent.1
Now as he journeyed on appeared afar
A boundless host of wielders of the spear.
A cavalier — one of that great array —
Approached as quick as dust on their behalf,
And, having lighted from his charger, said : —
" Behold Munzir the Arab."
When Munzir
Drew near the Shah all chiefs made way for him.
The Shah saluted him with signs of joy,
And brightened at his looks. That veteran
Set loose his tongue, discoursed of Rum and Csesar,
And said : "If thou art monarch of fran,
The guardian and the backbone of the brave,
Why do the Humans lord it so and prance
Upon the desert of the cavaliers ?
While if the Shah be Csesar's overlord
1 They were so many.
245
That haughty potentate should lose his head.
Now if the noble Shah will give permission
No more will he behold us asking aid,
And in the fight the horsemen of the desert
Shall triumph o'er the cavaliers of Rum."
The Shah was wroth that Caesar should exalt
Bjfl crown, as said Munzir, and, having chosen
Among the troops a man of eloquence,
And learned in Caesar's tongue, said thus : " Go thou
To Rum, take not thine ease in peopled parts,
And say to Caesar : ' If thou lackest wisdom
Thy brains will sorrow for thy policy.
The warrior-lion chasing onager
Will batten on them even in a salt-marsh.
For thee to have thy just dues from Munzir
Sufficeth seeing that Vega is his throne.
Discern then 'twixt thy left hand and thy right,
And, when thou knowest, claim what march is thine.
Since I am the distributor of lands
And realms, am highest in the world and chief,
My conduct shall be worthy of myself :
I will let not the wind blow on Munzir.
t hou hast stretched thy hand upon the Arabs
In fight take privy heed for thine own s.-lt.
Moreover all that sovereignty is mine,
And mine is all between the Bull l and Pisces.
If I shall send an army into Rum
Thy sword of steel will prove a sword of wax.' " a
The ambassador came forth from Nushlrwan
As 'twere a torrent, came and gave the message C. 1635
To Caesar, but that worthless <>n< recoiled
From what was just, replied evasively,
Imagining a fall from power remote,
And answered thus : " As for that fool Munzir,
Take what he stairth at its proper worth.
«-c Vol.i. p. 71. • Because "mtim, ' wax, rhymes with "Rom."
246 THE SHARK AM A OF FIRDAUSI
If he complaineth out of wantonness,
Exaggerating thus the evil done,
Or if a single man complain within
The desert of the wielders of the spear,
I will convert the heights of earth to breadths,
And that un watered desert to a sea."
The envoy heard, came swift as dust, and told
The words of Caesar. Nushirwan enraged
Said to his minister : " The brains of Caesar
Are wedded not to wisdom. I will show him
Who hath authority, the power to conquer
The world, to levy war, and make a pact.
His overweening and his haughtiness,
His labour, pillaging, and harrying,
He shall repent more dearly than the drunkard,1
That thrusteth both hands in the fire at night."
He then bade blow the trumpets, and a host
Was gathered unto him from every side ;
The din of tymbals went up from the court-gate,
Earth was pitch-hued and air was ebony.
He chose of cavaliers from that famed host
A hundred thousand armed with scimitars,
Entrusted that great army to Munzir,
And bade him : " From the desert of the spearmen
Lead unto Rum an army of the brave
To set the frontier and the land afire,
For youthful monarch though I be and though
I am but newly famoused in fight,
Yet fear not Rum or Ruman, thou ! for I
Regard the Ruman as a pinch of dust.
Now will I send me an ambassador —
A man of eloquence — to him. Henceforth,
If thou experience naught calamitous,
That Caesar should keep Rum would pleasure us.2
1 Reading with P. 2 Ending section with P.
NVSHIRWAN 247
§9
The Letter of Shah Nushirwdn to Casar of Rum
The Shah then called a scribe that was at court.
And bade to write a letter unto Caesar : — l
" From Nushirwan, the Shah of glorious birth,
The world -lord and successor of Kubad,2
To Caesar, the exalted lord of Rum —
Guard of the marches of that prosperous land."
The letter opened with the praise of God
From whom alone all greatness must be sought —
" The Master of the circling sun and moon,
The Source of victory and mastery,
Who is above the will of turning heaven
As touching justice, love, and strife. Though thou
Art Caesar and the lord of Rum dispute not
Aught with the Arabs, for if thou shalt take
The sheep out of the clutches of the wolf
Thou wilt, as thou art ware, have grievous toil ;
While if thou sendest troops against Munzir
I will not leave thee host or crown or throne.
If any underling grow masterful
He shall be punished by our scimitar.
Step not a single cubit past thy bounds
If thou dcsirest that our pact shall stand.
If thou shalt pass thy bounds we will pass ours,
And trample under foot thy head and throne.
The greeting of the lord of diadem
And might to those that seek not to cause trouble
By their injustice."
Unto this they set
The Shah's seal and then chose a cavalier,
Such as was needful, from the court, a man
Persuasive, valiant, shrewd, and veteran.
1 In r. the previous section ends hero. » Cf. p. 170, note.
248 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
§ 10
How the Letter of Nushirwdn reached Ccesar and how
he replied
The envoy with the letter of the king
Came to famed Caesar, gave it, greeted him,
And told him all the mind of Nushirwan.
When Caesar heard and had perused the letter
He writhed and was astound. His brow grew wrinkled,
His visage wan at what the exalted Shah
Had said. He called a scribe, wrote his reply,
And made his meaning clear for good and ill.
The letter first grew musky with the ink
What time he offered praise to God almighty —
" The Artist of the heavens over us,
The Source of warfare, peace, and amity.
He giveth in the world one man a crown
With slaves before him better than himself.
Though turning heaven itself be under thee,
And Jupiter beneath thy scimitar,
Search out thy records, for no son of Rum
E'er hath paid tribute to thy royal race.
King as thou art I am no less than thou ;
I too possess a head, a crown, and realm.
Why must I take so much abuse in fear
Of foot of elephant or din of drum ?
I now ask you for tribute and for toll,
And who is there with power to fight with Rum ?
The doings of Sikandar in Iran
Thou knowest, and we claim that noble Shah.
C. 1637 Sikandar 's sword is still in evidence,
Why pickest thou a quarrel with us thus ?
The javelin-wielding horsemen of the waste
Have pillaged our possessions in their raids :
No longer will we bear their wrongs but raise
NUSHIRWAN 249
The dust in all their borders. Nushirwan
Was neither Maker of the sun, nor hath
He seized the key of the revolving sky.
That there must be no other king of kings,
And his will only current in the world."
He gave the envoy no reply in speech,
Not recking of the wrath of Nushirwan,
But, when he set the seal upon tin letter,
He spake these words : " Christ and the Cross are
with me."
The envoy spent no breath on him, perceiving
With grief the answer, and with grief departed ;
Swift as a dust -cloud to the Shah he sped,
And told him all that Cjesar purposed.
How Nushirwan went to war with Ccesar
The king, when he had read the letter, raged
Against the turn of fortune. Then he called
The archmages and the chieftains, one and all,
And spake to them at large about that letter.
!!«• sat for three days with his counsellors
And paladins — the shatterers of hosts —
And on the fourth day was resolved to lead
His troops to fight with Caesar. At the gate
Arose the blare of trumpets with the din
Of brazen cymbals and of drums. He paused not,
But went to battle in a righteous cause,
Assembled troops, made up the baggage-train,
And called on God, the Giver of all good.
A dust rose su<-h that ilmu hadst said : " The sky
II Mi smirched its visage in a sea of pitch ! "
lad the surface of the earth with horse-shoes,
250 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
While silken flags incarnadined the air.
There was no room on earth e'en for a gnat,
No room for wind left in the firmament.
The hubbub of the horsemen and the dust
Of elephants made earth seem like the Nile.
The world-lord marched with Kawa's flag, with crown,
And golden boots. The army's din was heard
Two miles away. Before the host were drums
And elephants, and on this wise the Shah,
With chiefs behind him and with chiefs before him,
Sped onward to Azar Abadagan.
Now when his eyes beheld Azargashasp
Afar he lighted down and went afoot,
Requested of his pious minister
The sacred twigs and bathed his cheeks with tears.
C. 1638 He made his entry of the Fane of Fire
With wailing. They set up a throne inlaid
With gold, and spread thereon the Zandavasta,
Wherefrom an archimagus read aloud,
According to the ritual, while priests
And chieftains wallowed in the dust before it,
And rent their skirts. The great men showered jewels
Upon the book and muttered laud thereon.
The Shah approaching offered praise and prayer
Before the Maker of the world, and asked
For victory, for mastery, and guidance
Upon the path of justice. He bestowed
Gifts on the attendants and on mendicants
Wherever seen. He pitched his tent before
The Fire-fane, and his troops arrayed their ranks
Upon each side. He called a prudent scribe,
Discoursed at large, dictating fitting words,
Bade him address by letter graciously
The marchlords of the country of tan,
And say : " Fear God, be vigilant, and guard
The world against the enemy. Ye lords
NUSH1RWAN 251
And paladins ! be just to those beneath you,
And keep such forces as will foil the foe.
None while my standard shall be out of sight
Must think to slumber in security."
As from the Fane of Fire he marched towards Ruin
The bruit of him was spread throughout the land,
And all the faithful lieges flocked to him
Until the warriors l hid the fields and fells,
And many an aspirant came with gifts
And offerings to the king. Where'er he lighted
There reached him salutations and addresses
From all sides, while where'er he led his host
He still had feast and chase before his eyes,
And 'twas the custom for a thousand chiefs
To come each night to banquet with the king.
When he was near the frontier he made ready
For war and in the first place paid his troops.
His general was Shirwi, son of Bahrain —
A man of rede and self-possessed in battle.
He gave the army's left wing to Farhad,
To whom he proffered many prudent counsels.
Ust&d, son of Barzin, was on the right,
Garshasp, the atheling, was o'er the baggage.
Mihran 2 was at the centre, for his heart
Was steadfast in the fray. The outpost duty
The Shah gave to Hurmuzd, son of Kharrad,
Kn j« .in ing wisdom to his soul and heart,
While everywhere intelligencers wi-nt
That nothing might be hidden. Then the Shah
Called and advised his veterans much and \\t -11.
He said to them : "Ye numbers numberless c. 1639
Of men of high estate and warriors !
If any one of you shall quit my way,
Or draw a breath without my privity,
Shall cause affliction to th< mendicants,
adingwithP. • C/. p. 185.
252 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSl
Or to the mighty men possessed of treasure,
Shall injure any tree that beareth fruit,
Or do an act unseemly, trample down
The cornfields, or leave station to advance
Before the troops, I swear by God, the Lord
Of Mars, of Saturn, and of Sol, who gave me
The diadem and might, forthwith to cleave him
Asunder with my sword though like a star
He hide him in the clouds. I am the scout
Before the host, aspirant, central stay,
Guard of the elephants, of troops, and baggage,
Am now upon the left, now on the right.
I fare o'er land and sea, I seek no rest
And sleep in war."
A herald named Shirzad
Laid up at heart the words of Nushirwan,
And made in haste the circuit of the host,
Went round about tent and pavilion,
And cried : "Ye troops in numbers numberless !
The bidding of the watchful Shah is this :
Whoever, save in justice, love, and wisdom,
Shall look upon this gloomy earth of ours,
Men shall pour out his blood thereon as one
That hath departed from the will of God."
A proclamation did not satisfy
The Shah who night and day employed himself
In going on his rounds about the host,
Observing everything both good and bad,
Receiving tidings of the world's affairs,
And slighting nothing whether good or ill.
When any soldier died upon the march
The Shah prepared a charnel at the place,
And all the man's belongings — silver, gold,
His bow, his helm, his lasso and his belt,
Or good or bad, were buried with the dead,
Who in the grave had still his goods with him.
NUSHIRWAN 253
The world was lost in wonder at the height
Of majesty attained by Nushirwan.
In every place where he engaged in battli-
He showed his counsel, caution, and good sense,
And used to call a trusty messenger,
Who went to foes preparing for resistance,
And if they entered on the path of right
The wise Shah treated them with clemency ;
But, if they fought, that valiant Crocodile
Was very wroth, went forth to fight with them,
And gave their fields and crops to spoil. He wooed
The world with justice and the scimitar.
The conduct of the Shah was like the sun's,
Which shineth in its course on wet and dry,
Denying unto none its radiance, c« I64°
When banishing the clouds from circling heaven,
But giving all its justice and its bounty,
Its hue and scent, its lustrous pearls and waters,
Obscuring unto none its light and height,
But joying hearts and simply shining on.
The king of kings by justice, policy,
And Grace took all the world beneath his wings ;
Both war and bounty were mere play to him,
And thus it was that he attained his greatness.
Confronted by the elephant and lion
He ne'er deferred the combat for a day,
And when a foe was instant to appear
In helm and mail before the host for fight,
Him would they slaughter or in scorn would fling
Bound in the dungeons of the conquering king.
254 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
§12
How Nushirwdn took divers Strongholds in his
March to Rum
He marched upon this wise until he reached
A busy city which was named Shurab,
Wherein Gushtasp dwelt when he went to Rum.1
The Shah beheld it rising in the air,
Fulfilled with men and goods, with harp and song,
With stone-foundations springing from the deep,
And battlements up-builded to the clouds.
The troops beleaguered it but saw no means
Of access to the gate. The Shah set up
The catapults on all four sides, and then
The ramparts of the Christian crumbled down.
From every quarter came the breath of doom ;
Men saw no place of refuge or escape,
And when the shining sun set in the sky
The castle-walls were level with the plain.
The shouts of cavaliers, the dust of troops,
And fume of fire ascended to the moon.
The strong-hold was all trunkless heads and feet,
Elsewhere were headless trunks. The cries for quarter,
And women's shrieks, rose o'er the drummers' din.
The magnates eminent for wealth or valour
They bound and laid upon the elephants,
While wails of woe and cries for quarter rose.
The Shah spared none in battle -tide, he spared not
His treasures and dinars in banquet-time.
He marched thence till another hold appeared,
Wherein were Caesar's treasures, and it had
A mighty man for castellan. 'Twas called
Arayish-i-Rum till that Nushirwan
C. 1641 Ill-ended it. The watchful Shah surveyed
1 See Vol. iv. p. 325.
.\rSHJRWJN 255
That hold, unentered yet by hostile troops,
And bade shoot showers of arrows till the air
Was thick with them as 'tis with hail in spring.
The chieftains bravely stormed the walls and flung
Fire on the city and the citadel,
Wherein no living thing remained alive
Or, in the country round, a thorn or briar.
The Shah gave Caesar's treasures up to spoil,
And all the crowns and purses to his troops.
He brought the Day of Doom upon that city,
And all folk fled. Men, women, children, wailed
Till old and young assembling came before
The noble Shah and cried aloud for succour : —
" The ministers, the treasurers, and treasure,
Are thine, and thine the gain and toil in Rum ;
\\ C only beg of thee to spare our lives,
\V<> bondslaves of the Glory of thy crown."
The Shah bade cease the slaughtering, and he
Provided for these people bounteously.
§13
The Battle o/ riyus, the Leader ofCcpsar's
Host, the Victory of Nushirmi/ i Capture oj A
niyus and Antdkiya
Departing thence the Shah led on his troops,
And left Ar&yish-i-Rum in his r,
One came and told him : " Caesar hath dispatched
A host and lo ! it draweth nigh."
On hearing
Of that great power's approach — all spears and mail-
The Shah proclaimed t In- t idings to the troops
ill t IK host might be prepared. They marched
As 'twere an iron mountain ; battle-.
256 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Ascended and the blast of clarions.
A courier with tidings from the scouts
Appeared before the monarch of the world,
And told him : " Caesar hath dispatched an army
Formed of his famous men and warriors.
Their leader is a mighty paladin,
Whose name in Human is Farfuriyus —
A haught y cavalier with trump and drum —
And all his troops long for the fight like wolves."
While thus he spake before the watchful Shah
The dust-clouds of the advancing host appeared.
He smiled and answered thus the messenger : —
" The thing is not unknown to us, for we
Already have prepared the host for battle :
Such thoughts ne'er have been absent from our minds.'
Then with his lips afoam he gave command
That all the army should draw up in line.
C. 1642 So host with host confronted, and the air
Was hindered in its passage by the dust.
It was a glorious gathering of troops,
Proud chiefs and wielders of the scimitar,
All with loins tightly girded for the fray —
The great, the sages, and the seed of kings.
The swords of all were reeking with fresh blood,
And trenchant of the clouds. The enemy
Had no more respite than the quarry hath
From leopard springing. Human slain lay heaped
On all sides while the wounded turned from fight.
Farfuriyus himself thus stricken fled
The field with banner rent and drums o'erthrown.
The horsemen of fran like pards, when they
Clutch on the waste the mountain-sheep, pursued
The Humans, sweeping them from dale and desert.
The Shah marched on again equipped for war,
The soldiers all with mace and sword in hand.
He led his army on along a plain
NUSH1RWAN 257
Until another lofty hold appeared —
A citadel with soldiers, trump, and drum,
And hight Kaliniyus. The eagle saw not
Its battlements, a full moat girdled it,
And all around it stretched a fair domain
Of halls and gardens, grounds and palaces.
'T\\as strongly garrisoned by Ruman troops —
All famous men and eager for the fight.
The Shah encamped his powers two leagues away,
Earth blackened with the dust-clouds of the host .
And war-cries went up from Kaliniyus—
A clamour that bedwarfed the tymbals' din.
Thr Shah marked well that city whereunto
1 1 is troops for ever thronged increasingly ;
They battled at the gates and showered down
Their shafts and hand-grenades, and when bright Sol
'Gan pale, and half revolving heaven was dark.
No portion of the castle-walls remained :
That city was all level with the ground.
Then from the Shah's gate proclamation issued : —
' Ye famous men of the Iranian host !
Come from the city, every man, and pass
The night upon the plain. If any cry
Shall rise from women and from age<l folk,1
Or any sound of pillage, rioting,
And combating, shall reach mine ears at night .
So that but one complain of evil usage,
As soon as such appealeth ye shall see
Th<- V.UMI of the offender stuffed with hay." 2
\\lnn S..1 \\ a < stivt eh ing out its hand from Cancer,
Had put away fatigue and banished sleep,
The tymbals sounded at the monarch's gate,
iii-li-'st iii esteem set forth.
And from that hold and seat the men and women 1643
Assembled at the pite «.f \ushir\van :
•ii P. » c/. v..i. M. c
VOL. VII B
258 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
" No cavalier of all our warriors
Is left," they said, " or magnate in this city ;
They all, though guiltless, have been slain or wounded,
And it is time for pardon from the Shah,
Because God's justice never will approve
That women, babes, and elders should be captive.
The citadel and city's walls are such
That henceforth thou wilt see but thorn -brakes here.
Since Caesar was the offender how are we —
The people of Kaliniyus — to blame ? "
The Shah gave pardon to those Rumans : both
The guilty and the innocent escaped.
He left with them an ample store of wealth,
And marched his army with all speed away ;
But all the folk that he saw fit for arms
They bound on elephants and carried off.
Then news to Antakiya came : " The Shah
Is on his way with elephants and troops."
Now at that city was a boundless host
Of Human warriors and mighty men.
The Shah accorded to them three days' grace
That he might war not on them wrongfully,
But on the fourth his host came mountain -like —
The warriors of fran in close array —
While for the sake of women, children, land,
And wealth the cavaliers of Rum advanced.
They fought three mighty battles in three days,
But on the fourth day when the sun arose
The marches of that prosperous land lay open,
The Iranians saw no Ruman cavaliers,
The soldiers took possession of the place,
And filled it till there was no room to stand.
The great men that had thrones and coronets,
And those that were the treasurers of Caesar,
Gave up the treasure to the Shah — the world-lord—
The treasure unto him that bare the toil.
NVSHIRWAN 259
The Iranians set in bonds on elephants
All that were warriors among that folk.
Tin- Shah dispatched to Mada'in the captives,
And all the wealth of Caesar, then went round
Tin- city and beheld a country-side
More brilliant than the orbed moon. The gardens,
The parks, and streams, restored old age to freshness
And youth. The king addressed his nobles thus : —
" Can this be Antakiya or young spring ?
Whoe'er hath seen not jocund Paradise
Whereof the soil is musk, the bricks are gold,
Whose waters are rose-water and trees jewels,
Whose country is the sky, whose heaven the sun,
Should look on this fresh land, and may it be —
This land of Rum — in full prosperity."
§14
How Nushirwdn built the City of Zib-i-Khusrau in the Likeness
of Antakiya and settled the Human Captives therein
Then Xu>hirwan gave orders to construct C. 1644
A city having palaces and streams,
Like Ant akiva, radiant as a lamp —
All rosaries and mansions, parks and gardens.
The great men. bright of heart and happy, called it
Zib-i-Khusrau.1 'Twas like the jocund spring—
A paradise all colour, scent, and beauty.
Tlit captives taken in the towns of Rum,
>e hands and feet were galled wit h heavy bonds,
Wore set at large by XusluYw&n's command,
du.-ll in j<>y in that new city.
He 6ii K 1 \Vo have erected this new seat —
All gardens, rosaries, and palaces —
1 The Ornament <,f Khusrau.
260 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
That each might have a dwelling to his mind
And worthy of his name."
He gave to each
Goods, and the earth was decked like Paradise.
At sight of all the mansions, streets, and marts
Thou wouldst have said : " Each space is occupied."
A clamorous cordwainer came and said : —
" 0 unjust Shah ! there was a mulberry
Within my dwelling at Kaliniyus
Before my courtyard ; from Zib-i-Khusrau
I have not any such advantages,
For there is no such tree before my door."
So Nushirwan bade men to plant green trees
Before the door of that misfortuned one.
The Shah then chose a Christian unto whom
He gave authority, wealth, troops, and said : —
" Zib-i-Khusrau is thine and thine the charge
Of all the stranger-folk and their new home.
Be like a tree that beareth fruit and be
The city's sire at whiles, at whiles its son.
Be bountiful and beautify the place,
Not covetous, and keep the mean in all."
The Shah marched forth from Antakiya, leaving
A Christian and experienced man in charge.
Farf uriyus thereafter brought to Caesar
Intelligence about Kaliniyus,
And said to him : " The experienced Nushirwan
Came in his state with troops and elephants.
So mighty is his host that seas and mountains
Are all confounded by the horses' dust."
Then Caesar writhed for that which he had spoken ,
And called to him his prudent chiefs. His heart
Was full of fear because of Nushirwan ;
All day and through three watches of the night
He canvassed what to do. Thus spake a priest : —
C. 1645 " Thou'rt ill-advised because thou hast not power
NUSHIRWAN 261
To fight with Nushirwan. The foe will raise
The dust from this fair realm and bring to naught
The achievements of the Caesars. In debate
The feeble-tongued endangeivth the state."
§15
How Ccesar wrote to Nushirwdn and sent Tribute
Now Caesar heard this and his heart was troubled,
His counsels were o'ercast by Nushirwan.
He chose of the philosophers of Ruin
From regions scathless of the enemy,
A man of eloquence and understanding,
While of the priests three score unsmirched in soul
And wisdom volunteered. He sent the Shah
An cmbassage. Those magnates took their way.
Their leader was that man of wits, Mihras —
A warrior old in wisdom, young in years.
Ther. 'ffore them treasures of all kinds
Past reckoning, while Caesar, who repented
His language in the past, dispatched no stint
Of adulation, counsels, and fair words,
With heavy tribute and with hostages
Both of his own and of his nobles' kin.
Milnas. \\hrn IK- had come to Nushirwan,
Pronounced his praises in the Human tongue,
And tin m hadst said : " So shrewd and just is h<
He will produce stars from his sleeves ! " 'Twas thus
He spake to N u-li ir\\ an : " Set not, 0 king !
Such value on tin- world. Thou art in Rum
Now and Iran is void ; it hath not \\orth
Or Glory. So, when Caesar is away
l-'r. >m Rum. this count ry valueth not one gnat.
\\orth d<-rivrt h \\holly from the man :
When he is lost tin- value is lost too.
262 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
It i his commotion be but for wealth's sake —
That miner of wisdom and contentment —
Lo ! I have brought thee all the wealth of Rum,
For more than land and treasure is a soul
Serene."
The king's heart, when he heard this, grew
As jocund as a garden in the spring,
And he accepted what the envoy brought —
The purses of gold com, and hostages-
Gave commendations to the ambassadors,
Enlarging on the value of the gifts,
And said : " O clear in wisdom ! any one
Whom wisdom feedeth is a mighty man.
If all the soil of Rum were turned to gold
Thou wouldst outvalue still that noble land."
They set as tribute on those fields and fells
A hundred ox-hides brimming with dinars
C. 1646 To be dispatched by Caesar to the king
Each year with other gifts and offerings.
His troops were not to ocupy Yaman,
Or to require aught of the people there.
Therewith was heard the blare of trump and clash
Of brazen cymbals, and the prudent world-lord
Led back his host. He went his way to Sham,
And tarried there awhile. He brought with him
So many implements of war and troops,
So many captives, purses, crowns, and thrones,
That earth's back bent beneath the elephants,
And purses full of drachms. When he resolved
To quit that land he set in charge thereof
Shirwi, son of Bahrain, and said : " Demand
The tribute due from Caesar and accord not
Remission for a month or day."
Shirwi,
Who kissed the ground, blessed and addressed the
Shah :—
NlJSHlRWAN 263
" Mayst thou be happy and victorious,
And may the royal Tree ne'er pale its leaves."
When at the monarch's portal had begun
Tlu- drum-roll flag and troops fared toward Annan.
§16
The Birth of Nushzdd, the Son of Nfahirwdn, by a
Woman who was a Christian
Like to the sun was Nushirwan, the king —
The world's hope and its fear. Just as above
Sol speedeth on its pathway carrying
A ord in this hand and in that hand love,
I- '11 ivlcntless in its hour of rage,
But in its day of ruth all clemency,
So was this Shah of royal lineage,
Who had adorned the world with equity.
Know this — in my regard the monarch's stir
And subject's, if they holy be and pure,
Requireth of necessity a mate,
Dress, provand, and a privacy secure ;
While if the wife be pious and discreet
A heaped-up 1 r«-a>mv \\ ill she prove, and all
The more if locks musk-scented to her feet
Descend, and she be more than common tall,
Wise, learned, well counselled, chaste, and can expi. B
Herself in fair discourse with gentleness.
The noble Shah possessed a \\ it. like this,
In height a cypress and in looks a moon,
Moon -face was a Christian, and her beauty
Engrossed the tongues of all. She hare a haho
Sun -faced, out -hin ing Venus in the sky.
Th. nnhlr mother called the child Nushzad,
And no fierce blast assailed that lovely boy.
264 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
c. 1647 He grew up as he were a straight -stemmed cypress —
A youth of parts, the glory of the realm.
He knew of Hell, the path to Paradise,
Of Christ, of Esdras, and Zarduhsht, but he,
Believing not the Zandavasta, bathed
His visage in the fount of Christ, preferring
His mother's to his father's Faith : the age
Was lost in wonderment at him. The king
Was grievously concerned about his son,
Because that Rose bare only fruit of thorns.
They shut the portal of Nushzad's fair palace,
And there imprisoned him. His prison-house
Was at Gund-i-Shapur x far from his home
And father. Many criminals and captives
Were with him in that city and in ward.
Now when the Shah was on his way from Rum
The turmoil and the journey tried him sorely ;
So weak was he that he could hold no court.
One bare the tidings to Nushzad and told him : —
" The Glory of the empire is bedimmed ;
The watchful world -lord Nushirwan is dead,
Bequeathing to another earth and time."
His father's death rejoiced Nushzad. Oh ! may
No pleasure and enjoyment e'er be his !
He that doth joy when just kings pass away
Must have a gloomy temper. As to this
A famous ancient said : "If thou art glad
At my decease see that thou never die."
From death thou know'st no succour can be had,
The past is one here with futurity ;
But never death will wreck the soul of one
Whose toil hath favour in the sight of God.
Call we a reprobate and fool that son
Who in his father's footsteps hath not trod.
Wet be the seed of colocynth or dry
1 Kand-i-Shdptir in the text. For this city see p. 2 1 9.
NUSHfRWAN 265
It will not savour musk, then where the need
That it should change from what should spring
thereby
By nature if the gardener sow its seed ?
When any plant is predisposed to earth,
It parteth with the sunshine and pure air,
Therefrom no foliage or fruit hath birth.
It liveth for the earth and dieth there.
§17
The Sickness of Nushirwdn and the Sedition of Nushzad
J have made mention of Nushzad. Take heed
That thou quit not the path of equity.
If heaven possessed a father then indeed
He would resemble Nushirwan, so why
Should his own son quit the paternal way,
And seek the royal dignity and throne ?
Accord thine ear to all that I shall say, C. 1648
And I will keep back nothing, O my son !
I have well ordered that I did receive
From rustic bard, and by that token too
Am tain some memory of myself to leave,
So be the honour unto whom 'tis due.
is my wish that after I am dead
My fame as poet evermore shall last.
On t his wise spake a Persian bard whose head
A hundred years and twenty had o'erpast :—
" He that is hostile to the world's great king
Nnt of man's stock but Ahriman's must be."
X< >w of Nushzad they tell that very thing
As handed down by ancient Irp-ndry.
\\ lienas the son of Nu-lu'ru an had heard : —
Tin- i limnc of that right royal Tree is void."
11
266 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
He oped his palace-door, and from all quarters
Troops gathered unto him — all that had 'scaped
From wisdom's bonds and had been put in ward
By Nushirwan. Nushzad unchained the mad,
And all the city was in consternation ;
But he assembled of the citizens
All that were Christians, whether priests or prelate",
Assembled many haughty cavaliers
And swordsmen, while his mother gave him wealth—
The treasures lavished on her by the Shah.
There gathered to him thirty thousand men,
All famous and prepared to fight. He took
The cities round ; his fame was noised abroad.
He wrote a letter to his kinsman 1 Caesar,
Made known his dark designs, and said : " Arise
O king ! for thou art lord, friend, of one Faith
With me, and Caesar. As 'twere Rum, fran,
Its worship and its settlements, are thine,
My father hath been sick and now is dead,
His wakeful fortune hath been overthrown."
The tidings reached the towns of Mada'in
Of what the son of Nushirwan had done,
Whereat the warden of that march dispatched
To Nushirwan a cavalier to whom
He told what he had heard and what was secret.
The messenger went like a rapid stream,
And came to Nushirwan to whom he gave
The letter, telling all that he had heard,
And of the overt actions of Nushzad.
The Shah, when he had listened and had read
The letter, grieved thereat and was confounded,
Held session with the noble archimages,
Debating much with them in privacy,
And, when the consultation reached its end
In resolution, bade a scribe attend.
i In the Faith. Cf. p. 269. .
267
§18
The Letter of Nushirwdn to Ram Barzln. the Warden of the
Murch of Madd'in, respecting the Taking of Nushzdd
The Shah, both seared and sore, with frowning face C. 1649
And sighing lips, then had this let t IT writt. n
Wherein he first of all gave praise to Him,
Who fashioned the heavens, time, and earth,
The Aniiicer of Sun and Moon and Saturn,
Tin- Illumine!* of Grace, of crown, and throne : —
" From worthless stubble up to elephant
And lion, from the dust on emmet's foot
I "}> i" the Nile, though men shall roam from earth
To turning heaven they roam beneath God's sway.
No limit can be seen to His behest,
And none will rob Him of the sovereignty.
Of that unpleasing letter have I heard,
Sent by that most injurious son of mine.
And of the criminals who brake from ward,
And are assembled now about Xu-hzad.
'T\\riv In -tier one should quit the world than see
A day like this, for all are born to die ;
Fir-t Xu-hirwan and then Nushzad must go.
From gnat and ant e'en to rhinoceros,
And elephant, none can escape the claws
And beak of death. If earth revealed its secrets,
'laying everything from first to last,
i lx>som would be found fulfilled with kings,
breast with blood of cavaliers, its skirts
Wit h men of lore, the creases of its robe
With fair-eheeked dames. Then wherefore set a crown
••eliurt on thy head \\hen d. Bth's plumed shaft
Will pierre them both ( No OHO FBJoioetb much
At death of son, albeit all must die;
; as for those consorting with Nushzad,
268 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSl
\Yho reckon on the death of Nushirwan,
The death of them would be a cause for joy
If but Nushzad should 'scape the evil day.
Moreover none but misbegotten knaves
Would count upon the death of righteous Shahs.
Now though Nushzad hath turned his head from us,
In that the Div thus hath conspired with him,
His purpose is not firm in this regard ;
He was inflamed when he obtained his wish.
He could not have the post as well as we,
And thus was ruined by a false report,
For had the crown been void of Nushirwan
Nushzad had been the glory of the realm.
Still such an act is worthy of his Faith,
And suited to an evil soul like his.
C. 1650 I am not moved or fearful in this matter,
In that our son's religion is impure :
Moreover for the wealth that he hath wrecked,
That matter weigheth nothing on my heart ;
While as for all that have combined with him,
And banished from their hearts their awe of us —
The ill-doers, the malignant, and base-born,
Unworthy to be subjects to myself —
We look upon them also with contempt :
Let not their doings make thy heart afraid.
My fear is of the Master of the world,
Who is in wisdom wiser than the wise.
We must not grow unthankful in our souls
To God who is omniscient in good.
Me hath He given triumph and success,
Grace and the diadem of king of kings,
And had my praise been worthy of His gifts
It would have bettered my prosperity.
My son hath found a home and rest elsewhere ;
No single drop of him came from my loins.
With his awakening my foe arrived,
NUSH1RWAN 269
And, I do fear me, toil. Still if the World-lord
Hath no occasion to be wroth with me
I reck not of such thin*:*. In my regard
All they that are confederate with my son
Are vile and despicable. Tis his letter
That, if it bringeth l'a>ar. will befoul
My stream. The twain must be akin, methinketh,
Since they are one in Faith and poli»
The man that quitu-th his forefathers' Faith
Is one whose wits are much to seek. That son
1- U-t who is of one Faith, not at war,
With his own sire. Albeit though that insensate
Turn from the right no lip must ope to curse him.
To curse him is in essence to curse us,
Because he is of our own flesh and blood.
Array the host, take order for the war,
But act with moderation and hold back,
While if the matter cometh to a pass,
And if he offer battle, be not fierce.
To capture him is better than to slay :
Perchance he will turn back from evil doing,
And then the stream that reared that noble Cypress
Must come not on it in a bath of dust ;
But if he hold his honoured person cheaply,
It that tall Cypress shall d'-n.ean itself,
And if he spurn the pillow of delight,
Withhold not thou the mace and scimitar.
A man of rank indulging base desin -
Can not be freed from that propensity
And such a high-born man is base indeed
When he doth fight the monarch of the world.
tr not to slay him it he would pour out
His own head's blood upon the dust. He hasteth
To give his faith to Caesar and put off C. 1651
Allegiance to our cro\\n. whereby his greatness
li grown vile. \\ retched, and calamitous,
270 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And he hath chosen ruin from high heaven.
In this regard said Mihr-i-Nush — a sage
Who worshipped God and wore the woollen vest : —
1 The man that joyeth in a father's death,
May his be neither happiness nor breath.'
Seek not for light from darkness, else wilt thou
But mingle fire and water in the stream.
Man's only rest is when his toil is done :
It is fate's law and we must acquiesce.
Be not in friendship with the turning sky,
For whiles thou art the kernel, whiles the shell.
Why seek from its pomegranate hue and scent,
For it will rob thee of them both at sight ?
Whene'er the turning sky exalt eth thee,
Then is thy time for travail, fear, and loss.
As for the soldiers that are with Nushzad,
And err so greatly from the path of duty,
Know that they are but wind and sport to us,
The mockery of the wise, no mystery.
As for the Christians that are in his host,
And have revolted for religion's sake,
The regimen of Christ is such that they
Are frighted if one lifteth up one's voice,1
Desert his precepts and his path, and end
By turning into foemen of the Cross.
As for the other folk — the common herd,
Ill-taught, ill-minded, and adventurous—
They will not fright the heart of any man :
Their counsel and a breath of air are one.
Now if Nushzad be taken in the fight,
Discourse not with him touching these affairs ;
His person must not suffer injury,
His raiment must not show the rents of blows,
Because his wo men -folk will slay themselves.
His palace will afford the best of prisons
1 The Persian word for a Christian also means a coward. Cf. p. 219.
271
Both for himself and those that follow him.
Bar not to him the portal of my treasures,
Albeit one so dear hath grown so vile,
And as for raiment . victuals, tapestries,
And carpets tin re must be no stint at all,
For he is fitted but for things like these.
As for those marchlords of the Iranians —
Those that have girded up their loins with him —
When thou hast conquered do not hesitate,
But cleave them through the middle with the sword,
For all that are the great king's enemies
Thou rightly flingest to the crocodiles.
Besides these, all that are opposed to me
At heart — the seed of wicked Ahriman —
Who have forgotten all our benefits,
Thou now wilt test in dealing with Nushzad.
All acted as our watchmen heretofore, v- l652
And were in terror of our punishments.
For those on -lookers who have vilified,
And wagged their tongues against, Nushzad, know thou
That they have in especial cursed ourselves,
Preparing trouble in mine evil day.
Do not thou too as they : thus foemen speak.
I'D worthy as he is he is mine own .
Such is the truthful witness of my heart.
The tongue of i ach man that hath spoken ill,
Or acted with inju>ti< -e toward him, brand
In presence of the folk. May such an one
Have neitl BE tongue nor mouth. As for the man
That warreth to o'erthmw the Shah, employing
Guile, enmity, hostility, and faith
In Ahriman, such, as the famed Shah's f«
Must not be suf Tend n, ih«- realm."
They set
The Shah 'sown seal upon the letter. Then
The messenger departed wit h ; 11 speed,
272 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
And, when to Ram Barzin he made his way,
Told all that he had heard the great king say.
§19
How Ram Barzin fought with Nushzdd, and how Nushzdd
was slain
That done, he gave to Ram Barzin the letter
With its behests for dealing with Nushzad,
To levy troops, make war, and banish ruth.
When the old man had read it, and had heard
The messenger at large, the din of tymbals
Arose at cock-crow at the palace -portal,
A mighty host marched forth from Mada'in,
And Ram Barzin went swiftly to the war.
News reached Nushzad who called and paid his host,
While all the Christians and grandees of Rum
That dwelt along the march of that fair land
Assembled with Shammas as general :
Those warriors' hands all had been bathed in blood.
A shout rose from the portal of Nushzad,
And then the army, like a wind-tossed sea,
Moved from the city out upon the plain,
Their heads all war, their hearts revenge and venom.
When Ram Barzin beheld that army's dust
He blew the trumpets and arrayed the host.
The dust of cavaliers, the charge of chieftains,
The brandishing of mighty maces, rent
The hearts of flints ; none saw the bright sun's face.
C. 1653 Then in the centre of the host Nushzad
Set on his head a Ruman helm. His host
Was full of Christian clericals from Rum ;
The soil was hidden by their horses' hoofs.
Thou wouldst have said : " Earth seetheth, and the air
Is shrieking over it."
A warrior,
273
Beclad in mail and hight Piruz the old,
Came boldly forth and cried : " 0 famed Nushzad !
Who wantonly hath turned thy head from right ?
Contend not with the army of the king
Because thou wilt repent thee of this strife.
Thou hast abjured the Faith of Gaiumart,
The pathway of Hushang and Tahmuras.
The arch-deceiver Christ was put to deatli
Because he had lenounced the Faith of God ;
So choose not him, of all that founded Faiths,
Who so mistook the aspect of his work,
For if the Grace of God had shone in him
How could the Jews have gained the upper hand ?
d hast thou what thy sire, that noble man,
The wo rid -lord, did to Caesar and to Rum,
Yet now thou wouldst contend with him and raise
Thy head to heaven ! For all thy moon -like mien,
Thy Grace and stature, neck, limbs, hands, and
mace,
I see no wisdom with thee anywhere,
Such recklessness possesseth thy dark soul !
Woe for this head of thine, crown, name, and birth,
Which now thou wouldst abandon to the blast !
For son to seek his living father's throne,
Hnu should this be ? 'Tis neither use nor right.
To seek the crown, it he be dead, is well ;
To seek to fight him now is criminal.
Save thou he -non ing elephant or lion
Thou canst not match Shah Nushirwan, and though
I have not seen, O prince ! a bridle-hand
Like thine limned in the palace of the Shahs,
Such foot and stirrups, such a breast and neck,
Such ardour in the fight and such a mace,
Though painter never looked on such a picture,
Or any age on such a prince, yet burn not
-<-ul d \ .in l,\- childishness,
8
274 THE SH ANN AM A OF FIRDAUSI
Or stultify the world-illuming crown,
For hostile howsoe'er a son may be
His father will lament when he is slain.
Dismount, ask quarter of the Shah, and fling
This mace and Human helmet to the ground ;
Then if far hence some chilling blast should make
The dark dust settle on thy countenance,
The Shah's heart would consume for thee, the sun
Weep o'er thy face. Sow not throughout the world
The seed. of enmity, for hastiness
Becometh not a prince. If thou dost swerve
From mine advice and trust to violence,
And to thy might, the counsel of Piruz
C. 1654 Oft will recur to thee, and then the words
Of thine ill counsellors will seem but wind."
Nushzad made answer : "0 wind-pated dotard !
Ask not my troops — exalted warriors —
Or me — the Shah's son — to cry out for quarter.
The Faith of Nushirwan is naught to me ;
My heart inclineth to my mother — her
Whose constant practice is the Faith of Christ.
I will not quit her Grace and Faith. Although
Its Founder — Christ — was slain, the World-lord's
Grace
Hath not forsaken Him. That Holy One
Hath passed from this earth back to holy God,
Such was His aspiration when on earth.
I may be slain but shall not fear to die,
For to that bane there is no antidote."
He answered thus the old Piruz and veiled
Air's face with shafts. The warriors of the host
Advanced, the battle-cry and clarion's blare
Went up, Nushzad, the chief, spurred on like fire,
Came as it were Azargashasp, and brake
The left wing of the army of the Shah,
Where none remained to fight with him. He slew
NVSHIRWAN 275
Full many a Lion of the host, whereat,
Grown wrathful, Ram Barzin bade shower arrows,
And fill the air as 'twere with hail in spring.
The din of battle went up on both sides
From all the valiant soldiers there engaged.
Nushzad was wounded in the mellay. Oft
He called to mind the counsel of Piruz,
And reached in pain the centre of the host,
Pierced by a shaft and pale with agony.
Thus said he to the warriors of Rum : —
" To fight one's sire is wretched, vile, accursed ! "
Bewailing and lamenting thus he summoned
A bishop and confessed his heart's desires.
He said : " The evil fortune caused by me
Hath fallen rigorously upon myself.
X»»w, since my head will pass beneath the dust,
Dispatch a horseman to my mother. Say
To her : * Nushzad hath left this world. For him
The days of right and wrong are at an end.
I prithee be not grieved at heart for me ;
Such is the fashion of this Wayside Inn !
• I have been allotted this dark day
How could my heart be glad and brighten earth ?
All living creatures are but born to die ;
Grieve not for me, for thou art mortal too.
'Tis not my slaying that confoumleth me,
But worse — my sire's displeasure. Let me have
No mausoleum, throne, or stately rites,
But bury me \\ it h < 'hrist inn burial.
I need no camphor, musk, or spicery,
For arrow-stricken I depart the world.' '
He sp;i lip*. Thus passed Xushzad, €.1655
t noble Lion -heart. Now when his troops
II .id nt his death they fled the battlefield.
Iranian leader, hearing that the prince
slain went weeping to his couch in haste
276 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
The troops ceased slaying on the field of fight,
And neither joyed nor spoiled. They saw the prince
Slain and o'erthrown with ignominy, his head
Upon a Human bishop's breast : the field
Was filled with wailing for him. Ram Barzin
Was troubled to the heart and asked the prelate : —
" What know'st thou of the prince's dying wishes ? "
" Except his mother," thus the bishop answered,
" None must behold his head exposed. He, seeing
That he was wounded by a shaft, forbade
All obsequies and musk and spicery,
Or coronet, brocade of Rum, and throne,
Perceiving his to be the slave's dark lot.
His mother now will shroud him and provide
A tomb and winding-sheet with Christian rites,
While his condition now is that of Christ's,
Although he did not die upon the Cross."
Of all the Christians that were in the land
There was not one but had his visage torn.
A cry rose from the country. Men and women
Assembled. From the plain they raised the corpse
Of that young, gallant prince — the Heart and Eyes
Of Nushirwan, the Shah — upon a bier,
Transporting it three leagues by hand, then set it
Upon two mules which bare it to his mother.
Now when she was aware of what had chanced
Her head and crown descended to the dust.
She came forth to the street unveiled. A crowd
Assembled round her in the market-place.
They set a camp-enclosure round about,
And all the folk cast dust upon their heads.
They laid him in the earth. He passed. He came
From wind and suddenly to wind returned.
Gund-i-Shapur 1 was all in tears, consumed
With sorrow for the anguish of the Shah/
Why writhe so madly in the bonds of greed ?
1 See p. 219.
277
Thou know'st that here thou canst not long remain.
Seek to escape, give not the world such heed,
Smell not its rose so fondly, 'tis but bane.
From Faith and righteousness turn not thy head,
Or else the wrath of God will chasten thee ;
A father's wrath," a pious Arab said,
" Will bring upon thy life calamity."
\Yhrn sire shall be displeased with son in aught
Know that in seed and fruit that son is bad.
Oh ! never make thy father's soul distraught
Whatever trouble thou from him hast had.
When thou'rt secure refrain thy heart from woe, C. 1656
Nor on thy heart the fire of trouble fling,
I> t not thy passions master wisdom so,
But act with seemliness in everything.1
Now be the world's king happy all his days,
And may he bear these words of mine in mind.
Mahmud, the world -lord, who ensueth praise,
A niche therefor in every heart will find.
Love ever shineth from his Grace divine,
His crown's top is the pillar of the sky.
Now ask, if cup thou hast, for amber wine,
And hold not quaffing acting sinfully.
Seek joy and mirth but never be bemused,
Npr think that talk — wise talk — should be abused.
1 Four couplets omitted.
PART II
THE STORY OF BUZURJMIHR AND OF THE
SEVEN BANQUETS OF NUSHIRWAN
ARGUMENT
The Shah, being disquieted by a dream, sends emissaries through
the empire to find an interpreter. One is discovered at Marv in the
person of Buzurjmihr, then a youth, who having been brought
before the Shah interprets the dream and is advanced to great
honour. The Shtih subsequently gives a series of entertainments
at which discussions on wisdom and morals are substituted for the
usual diversions of Oriental banquets, and Buzurjmihr again greatly
distinguishes himself.
NOTE
Persia, like other nations, has its Wisdom-literature. This com-
prises apologues, apothegms, proverbs, parables, the interpretation
of dreams and dark sentences, astrological forecasts, the solution of
problems, the supplying the correct answer to questions relating to
religion, morals, conduct, and expediency, and longer discourses
thereon, reflections on fate and fortune, on the uncertainty of all
terrestrial affairs, on the vanity of striving after wealth and fame,
and the importance of leaving behind one a good name after death.
All these forms of wisdom find expression in the Shiihnama, and
the poet himself has been not backward in contributing his quota.
At the first available opportunity in his work he utters his " Praise
of Wisdom" — the first created of God and His best gift to man.1
A collection of all the passages dealing with such themes and
subjects as are mentioned above, and including Firdausi's own
reflections on such matters, as have occurred in the poem up to
this point, would amount to something considerable, but scattered
through a mass of narrative they are apt to be overlooked. In this
reign, however, we are confronted by formal collections of primitive
Persian Wisdom associated for the most part with the name of
Buzurjmihr but to some extent with other great officials and with
1 Vol. i. p. 101. Cf. too p. 103, supra.
278
NUSHiRWAN 279
Nushirwan himself. Firdausi availed himself of the opportunity of
the conjunction of the just Shah with the wise counsellor to bring
together all that he could find in his authorities and elsewhere on
some of the subjects mentioned at the beginning of this note. That
a large Pahlavi literature once existed on such matters, and arranged
sometimes in the form of question and answer, we know from what is
extant. Thus the sage in the " Dfna-f Mafn6g-f Khirad " (" Opinions
of the Spirit of Wisdom") consults the Spirit of Wisdom on sixty-
two points and receives answers, e.g. " The sage asked the spirit of
wisdom thus: 'Which man is the mightier?' . . . The spirit of
wisdom answered thus: 'That man is the mightier who is al»le to
-i,fie with his own fiends; and, in particular, he who keeps
these five fiends far from his person, which are such as greediness,
wrath, lust, disgrace, and discontent.' " * The concluding question
is : " Which is that good work which is greater and better than all
good works, and no trouble whatever is necessary for its per-
formance ' " The answer is : "To be grateful in the world, and to
wish happiness for every one. This is greater and better than every
good work, and no commotion whatever is necessary for its per-
formance."2 These questions and answers are quite of a piece with
the sages' gnomes in the poem. There are also extant in Pahlavi
the " Pandnamak-i Vadsh6rg-Mitr6-i Bukhtakan" or " Bakhtapin,"
i.e. the "Book of Counsels of Biizurjmihr the son of Bakhtagan,"
the "Characteristics of a Happy Man," and other texts dealing with
similar subjects.3 There can be no doubt but that Firdausi derived
the sententious, gnomic, parenetic, or whatever one chooses to call
them, portions of the Shsihnamu, like the narrative, indirectly from
tin- Pahlavi. Four series of such passages occur in the present
reign. The first and longest is in the present Part. The second is
Buzurjmihr's Discourse on good deeds and works in Part III. The
third is Nushfrwan's answers to the questions addressed to him by
irchmages. The fourth is the vivd voce examination tli.it
Hurmu/.d, N i-liir wtin'sson, has to pass at the hands of Biizurjmihr,
by order of the Shah, before being nominated as his father's suc-
cessor. One cannot help fe«-linga sneaking sympathy, reprehensiM.
gh it be, with him when we find him signalising his advent to
hrone by making a clean sweep of his father's ministers from
whose "wise saws and modern in-tances" doubtlessly he had
suffered iniuh in the days of his youth. Nero acted similarly in
the case of Burrus and the younger Seneca. Of these four series
tli. thiid is concerned only partly with Wisdom-literature, some
» WIT, iii. 81. « Id. LI* ' GIP, ii. 113 8<q.
280 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
of the questions dealing with Nushirwan's own conduct on specified
occasions. This and the fourth series will appear in Volume VIII.
Buzurjmihr, the son of Bakhtagan, of Marv, the man chiefly
associated with the Wisdom-literature of the Shahnama, is but a
semi -historical figure hardly mentioned by any historian before
Firdausi's time with the exception of Mas'udi who died when the
poet was a youth. Mas'udi gives twelve maxims of Buzurjmihr's
and little else,1 so that practically we are dependent on what
Firdausi tells us, and this, with regard to the incidents recorded,
generally has something of the prseternatural about it. Bu-
zurjmihr's career begins with a dream, and while sleeping on his
journey to the court a snake, which seems an Arab rather than a
Persian touch, comes and breathes over him. Moreover, his fall
from power is preceded by an omen and his restoration to favour
accomplished by another. We never hear of him as being
associated with any of Niishirwan's great achievements in adminis-
tration or in war. He is employed, it is true, upon two missions,
once to expound a game — chess — and to propound another of his
own invention — nard — and once to negotiate in time of war a loan
for his master, which falls through owing to the fact that
Nushirwan has a higher conception of the dignity of the office
of the scribe than Buzurjmihr himself. His repute seems largely
due to Firdausi, who used him as a peg whereon to hang all the
old clothes of the Wisdom-literature that the poet was too con-
scientious to discard but could not dispose of elsewhere. There is,
however, a thanksgiving couplet to testify that he was not sorry
when the worst of his task was over.2 If the number seven were
not such a favourite in Persian story one might suggest that the
Seven Banquets of Nushirwan originated in a perverted reminiscence
of the seven Greek philosophers who were entertained for a while
at his court when Justinian closed the schools of Athens,3 and that
Buzurjmihr himself is not much more than a native composite
reproduction of those hapless and disillusioned sages.
Mohl has some apposite remarks on the Wisdom-literature:
" Ce qui a le plus contribue t\ la gloire du regne de Nouschirwan,
c'est la reputation de son vizir, Buzurdjmihr, qui est en Orient
le representant de toute la sagesse humaine, comme Nouschirwan
lui-meme est la representation de la justice. On les a entoure"s
tous les deux d'une aureole de fables, et Pon a mis sous leurs noms
tous les contes qui se rattachent par leur nature & la renomme'e
particuliere de chacun. On a done attribue" a Buzurdjmihr tous
1 MM, ii. 206 seq., vii. 1G4. 2 See p. 379. 3 GDF, v. 93.
NV SHIR WAN 281
les traits de sagesse et Unites les moralites qu'on a pu trouvn •, a
Firdousi les rapporte an long les uns et les autres. Quant aux
moralites, le poete avail evidemment decouvert quelques collections
<>u on les avait reunies, et il nous en donne a trois reprises
ntes, ou des traductions completes, on d'ample.s extraits.
Je crois que les originaux ont du etre composes en pehlewi, et
M sentences ont cprouve quelque dommage, soit de la part
des copistes, soit de celle des traducteurs, car lea questions et
•onses ne paraissent pas toujours s'accorder suffisamment.
De plus, les copistes du Litre des Rois on e"videmment i'-u' anVu'-s
par le texte et ont fait pour le redresser beaucoup d'effort mal-
heureux. ... II est tres-probable encore que les sentences que
nous trouvons dans les moralistes arabes et persans sont des restes
tc antique sagesse des Perses. Les observations et les regies
qu'elles contiennent nous paraissent en general bien simples et
parfois bien pueriles ; mate cela me'me parle pour leur origine
recul.'-e. Elles ont ete une fois neuves et frappantes et ont .'te
transmises aux nouvelles generations, entourees du respect qu'-
inspire en toute chose la reputation d'antiquite*. Ce n'est certaine-
ment pas dans une monarchic comme celle de la Perse sous
Nouschirwan, <(iie commencait a tomber de vetuste, qu'on avait
besoin d'inventer des moralites elementaires." l
On the same subject Noldeke says : lt In the discourses on wisdom
and riddles which take up so much space in the story of tin first
Chosrau (Kisr£) are probably to be found many duplicates of
whole passages; to settle these questions much material besides
the Shahnama is available, but truly to investigate these wearying
fragments would require an unusual amount of patience ! " z
§ i
How Nushinodn had a Dream and how Buz// retedit
Now in the tale of Buzui jmiln \\ ill we
Reveal a cheerier visage. Do not deem
That there is naught but folly in a diva in :
Knnu that a dream may smack of prophecy,
And in especial \\lim sn<-h visit ings
••fa«e. • NFS, 1 J
282 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
Impress the clear mind of a king of kings.
The stars with sky and moon hold conference,
Their words are whispered and dispersed through
space,
And clear souls dreaming see the future thence
As fire is mirrored in the water's face.
One night Shah Nushirwan, the wise and shrewd,
That lucid spirit, lay asleep and dreamed :
A royal tree grew up before the throne,
And joyed his heart. He called for harp and wine
And minstrelsy, but on his throne of peace
And joy there sat with him a sharp-toothed boar,
Sat ready-dight for revelry and claimed
To quaff the wine from Nushirwan's own cup.
Sol rose in Taurus and the skylark's note
Was heard on all sides yet the monarch sat
Upon his throne in dudgeon at that dream.
They called the interpreter of dreams and held
A session of the magnates at the court.
The Shah narrated to those archimages,
The counsellors, his dream. The interpreter
C. 1657 Made no reply, he knew of no such case,
And one that pleadcth ignorance is excused.
The Shah, thus left unanswered by the sages,
Was instant what to do in his concern,
And sent to every side an archimage,
One enterprising, shrewd of heart, and wise.
He made each take a purse and entertained
High hopes from their return. In every purse
There were ten thousand drachms that every envoy
Might seek out some interpreter of dreams,
Some man of understanding, some adept,
To solve the world -king's dream and to reveal
The mystery, and then bestow on such
A full purse and the royal compliments.1
1 Reading with P.
NUSHIRWAN 283
So to all parts a veteran archmage went —
A prudent cavalier and man of lore.
One of these chiefs — Azad Sarv J — came to Marv,
Went through the town and saw an archimage,
Who taught the Zandavasta to some youths
With harshness, anger, and raised voice. The tallest,
An earnest student of the Zandavasta,
One whom they used to title Buzurjmihr,
- poring lovingly upon the roll.
Azad Sarv turned his rein, drew near, and sought
An explanation of the great king's dream.
scribe replied : " 'Tis not my business ;
The Zandavasta is my help to knowledge.
h these children but I do not dare
To breathe of aught beyond," but Buzurjmihr
Said blushing to his master, having heard
The envoy's words : " This quarry is for me ;
I s my bu- > interpret dreams."
His teacher bawled : " Hast thou thy roll by heart
That thou shouldst thus exalt thy neck in pride,
And set up as a dream-interpreter ? "
Tin- envoy said to him : " 0 learned man !
He may possess this skill ; abash him not.
youth's lot may be high through fortune 's teaching,
Not thine."
The master wroth with Buzurjmihr
Cried: "Tell then what thou knowest," but he
answered : —
I will speak not till set before the Shah.
The envoy gave him money and a steed
Witli all tilings needful. They set off from Marv,
As pheasants pace 'neath roses, and discoursed
About 1 1n- Shah his power, Grace, crown, and state C. 1658
Till at the hour for provand and repose
y reached a spot with water, lighted do\\n
1 ( / Vol. v. p. 260.
284 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
Beneath a tree and, having eaten, rested.
While Buzurjmihr slept in the shade, his mantle
Drawn o'er his face, his noble way -mate saw,
Being still awake, a snake which drew away
The mantle from the sleeper, vehemently
Breathed over him from head to foot, then clomb
The tree. When that black snake had scaled the stem
The youth awoke, and when the serpent saw
The youth's discomfiture it disappeared
Amid the dusky boughs. The envoy stood
Astound, invoking oft the name of God,
And thought : " This wise youth will attain to great-
ness ! "
They left that wood, pushed on, and reached the
Shah.
The envoy hurried first before the throne
Of Nushirwan, and said : " Oh ! may thy fortune
Be ever young, 0 Shah ! From court I went
To Marv and roamed about as pheasant doth
Within a rosary. Amid the sages
I found a wise youth and have brought him hither
In haste."
He told withal what Buzurjmihr
Had said and of the portent of the snake.
The world -lord called and told the dream to him.
He heard, grew full of matter, and replied : —
" There is a youth disguised in women's garb
Within thy bower. Now put all strangers forth.
That none may know our purpose, and command
Thy ladies all to pass before thy presence
With measured tread, and then I will demand
Of that bold reprobate how came he thus
Within the Lion's lair, for God will show
The secret fact to be as thou hast dreamed."
The Shah put forth all strangers, closed the palace
Of king of kings, and bade the eunuchs bring,
NlJSHiR\VAN 285
As swift as smoke, the Idols dwelling there.
They came, those Idols of his bower, in all
Their perfumes, tints, and beauty. All these fair ones, C. 1659
Exhaling jasmine, dainty, modest, passed
With leisured tread before him, but no man
Appeared among them, and like angry lion
Raged Xiishirwun. Then said the interpreter : —
' This should not be ; there is a youth among them.
Bid them to pass a second time all bare,
And probe their practice to the uttermost."
The Shah spake thus : " Cause them to pass again,
And put away the veil of modesty."
They passed the second time and, when all thought
The dream an empty one, a youth appeared
Of cypress-stature and of kingly looks,
But quaking like a willow and despairing
Of his dear life. Now in the great king's bower
Were seventy girls, all noble Cypresses,
And one of them, with cheeks of ivory,
Was daughter to the governor of Chach.
The youth with jasmine-face and musk-perfumed
Had been her love at home. He followed her
Where'er she went and served her like a slave.
The Shah inquired of her : " Who is this man
So cherished by my slave, so favoured, young,
And daring, in the bower of Nushirwan ? "
" He is not," said the girl, " as old as I.
l»ut young. One mother bare us both.
Our sire was different, our mother one.
B is naught wrong between us. He assunx <l
This kind of habit, for through modesty
II- <li<l not dare to look upon the Shah.
< >h ! make it not a pretext that my brother
From shamefastness before thee veiled his face."
The Shah said to the youth : " Thou worthless dog !
Both race and family are smirched by thee."
286 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
He frowned. He was amazed at that young pair,
Then bade in wrath the executioner : —
" Let the dust hide them."
So he haled them back
Behind the curtains of Shah Nushirwan,
And hung them there — a warning to the rest.
The Shah gave that interpreter of dreams
Purse, steeds, and robes, and, wondering at his know-
ledge,
Observed his sayings. They inscribed his name
Among the counsellors, the archimages.
Thus prospered Buzurjmihr, and circling heaven
Showed him its face, while ever day by day
His fortune greatened, and the Shah's heart joyed
In him exceedingly.
1660 That heart was full
Of right ; the Shah was cultured, heart and brain.
He had residing at his court archmages,
And sages understanding in all knowledge.
Three score and ten — all men of eloquence —
Were lodged and entertained continually.
He used, when not engaged with justice, largess,
Festivity or war, to question them,
And deck his heart with knowledge. Buzurjmihr,
Though still a youth, was eloquent and shrewd
And fair to look upon, surpassing all
The famed archmages, readers of the stars,
And sages, in his knowledge, and became
Exalted over those philosophers.
None was so learned in astrology.
In leechcraft he excelled 1 and spake with ease
Of conduct, government, and policies.
1 Reading with P.
NVSHIRWAN 287
§2
The first Banquet of Nushirwdn to the Sages, and the
Counsels of Buzurjmihr
The board was spread one day. The Shah com-
manded : —
" Bid the archmages come, the learned, the curious.
The eloquent, the prudent, and observing."
The archmages vigilant of heart, the chiefs
That were accomplished in all knowledge, came,
And, having feasted, called for wine and drank
I'ntil their spirits rose, not bringing wisdom
To disrepute but to refresh their souls.
The prudent Shah said to those men of lore :—
" Display the hidden knowledge that ye have ;
Let every one possessed of understanding
Within his heart hold forth and pleasure me."
The wise men bold and mighty in discourse
Set loose their tongues in presence of the king,
Both young and old, as he required of them.
When Buzurjmihr had listened to their words,
And noted that the Shah held knowledge dear,
He rose, did reverence, and said : "Just judge !
Be earth the bondslave of thine ivory throne,
ll'-aven lu>t rous with the (llory of thy crown.
• .w tin- Shah shall bid his slave unlock
BBl t(,n<rur then I will speak although unworthy,
And, in respect of knowledge, least of all.
No wise man can be blamed for having loosed c. 1661
His tongue in presence of Shah Nushfrwan."
The monarch looked upon the sage and said :—
What reason can there be for hiding knowledge ? "
The youth forthwith displayed his mastery,
And spread lij_flit round him while his eloquence
And counsels fi\ archimages' hearts.
288 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
He first displayed his gifts in praise of God,
And then proceeded : " One whose mind is clear
Will utter much in little ; hasty folk
Are talkative and tedious. When fools' talk
Endureth long the speaker is despised.
Seek worth and not addition, for the world
Is fleeting, and we are but sojourners.
Were our days to endure for evermore
The world would have too many candidates.
While here below humanity is best,
And knowledge in that view will not gainsay thee.
Our inward light we owe to righteousness,
And we must weep o'er darkness and chicane.
The heart of every one is slave to passion,
Which differeth with each, and in the world
Each hath his humour ; it is well that thou
Conform therewith. All foremost in affairs
Still will be scheming and endeavouring more,
But sages, scholars, and the inly blest
Dwell here below and set their hearts above.
Vex not thyself about the unattained ;
'Tis toil of body and distress of soul.
He that is strong will act straightforwardly,
But lies and double-dealing come of weakness.
If thou lack knowledge silence is the jewel,
While if thou art in love with thine own knowledge
Debate will take that wisdom out of thee.
Rich is the man that hath not greed, and blest
Is he that hath not covetise for mate.
Humanity is brother unto wisdom,
Which is as 'twere the crown upon the soul.
To have a sage for mortal enemy
Is better for thee than a fool for friend.
The man content is rich ; he putteth greed
And care in bonds. Thou wilt give ear to sages
If thou art humble in thy wish to learn.
NVSHIRWAN 289
When one is masterful in counselling
Men falter not in action. Let the man
That hath forgot his knowledge hold his tongue.
When thou hast wealth in hand with gold and silver,
And steeds caparisoned, in daily cost c. 1662
Be neither close nor lavish. Choose the mean,
And let thine only guide be rectitude.
The wise man keepeth foes afar, and they
Become his servants. Know thou, he that doth
His best will win in war. Speak not vain words,
For from that fire ensueth naught but smoke.
Spend not thy thoughts upon what ne'er can be,
Because with water thou canst pierce not iron.
A king if he be learned is humble too
Though knowledge make him great and powerful.
He that acknowledgeth God's handiwork
Hath passed the ills of fortune ; he will serve
God more and more, cast out the Div's suggest i<.:
Refrain himself from what should not be done,
Afflict not those that should be unafflicted,
And in the last resort incline to God,
Who is our Nourisher and Fosterer."
Now at that goodly speech of Buzurjmihr
The doctors all grew fresh of countenance,
Rose in the presence of the king of kings,
And proffered praise anew. The company
Were all astound at Buzurjmihr. that one
So young should rise so high. The world -lord mar-
velled
At him. then summoned the ehicf registrars,
And bade them sot his name first on the roll :
fortune shone forth like the sun in heaven.
Again the archmages entered on discourse,
While all the sages were in wonderment :
The youth set loose his tongue, for he was pun
•art and of an ardent soul, and thus
VOL. VII T
290 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
He said : " We must not even in our thoughts
Turn from the king, the righteous judge, for he
Is as the shepherd and we are the sheep ;
Again, we are the earth, he is high heaven.
We must not quit our fealty to him,
Must not renounce his way and ordinance,
But joy when he is glad, if we are fain
To proffer to him all the age's due,
Diffuse his excellences in the world,
But keep his confidence inviolate.
Presume not thou upon his dignity,
For e'en the lion's heart is frayed by fire.
We should call e'en a mountain that despised
His bidding foolish -hearted and light-witted.
All evil and all good come from the Shah,
From him come bond and dungeon, crown and throne.
The world hath from his love its worth and Grace,
While at his wrath our livers seethe within us.
c. 1663 The crowned head is the Grace of God, the sage
Hath joy and mirth therefrom. Of Ahriman
Is he that joyeth not ; his heart and brain
Are cultured not with knowledge."
They gave ear
To what the young man said, and those outworn
Revived in soul. With tongues and mouths all praise
That mighty convocation went its ways.
§3
The second Banquet of Nushirwdn to Buzurjmihr and
the Archimages
A se'nnight passed. That king of ardent heart
Convoked the wise and shelved the world's affairs
Because he wished to hear the words of sages—
NUSHIRWAN 291
Those that were worthy to be called to court,
And were approved by knowledge to the Shah.
They came, the wise in utterance, both young
And elders of experience. With the doctors
Of ardent soul fared youthful Buzurjmihr,
The exalted one. These doctors sage and shrewd
Sat near the lofty throne and turned their looks
On Buzurjmihr because at him the face
Of Nushinvan grew bright. One of the wisest
Then questioned him concerning fate and fortune : —
\Vhat is their character and who ordained them ? "
He answered : " One aspireth, being young.
He toileth night and day, and yet his path
Is dark and narrow and his conduit low,
While some mere dolt will sleep on fortune's throne,
And rose-trees scatter roses over him.
Such is the character of fate and fortune,
No toil avoideth their apportionment ;
The World-lord, the All-wise, our Fosterer,
Hath fashioned thus the star of destiny."
Another said : " What man attaineth greatness ?
To whom is high estate the most becoming ? "
He said : " The man that hath the better know-
ledge
Of what is good and putteth it in practice."
Another said : " What is there best in us ?
Who from the world is worthiest of good ? l
He answered : " Gentleness, munificence,
With magnanimity and courteousness.
The humble man who boweth down his neck ;
His hand will give, expecting no return ;
He toileth and by toil would win tlu \\orld,
And keepeth step with IVIInw \\ay-farers."
" What is the special virtue of the sage,"
Another said, " in moments of dispute ? "
adingwithP.
292 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
C. 1664 He answered : "To discern when he is wrong,
And modify his methods and his views."
Another one inquired : " How should one act
To make existence more endurable ? "
He thus made answer : " Whensoe'er the heart
Is fraught with wisdom there is gladness too.
Then will the man both give and take aright,
And shut the door of fraud and knavery,
Will pardon faults whene'er he hath the power,
And not be hasty or irascible."
Another asked of him : " Among the folk
Who is best able to command himself ? "
He said : " The man that is not led by passion
Away from nobleness and native worth,
And likewise he that can command his weakness,
Aware that evils follow on excess."
Another said : "Is there aught anywhere
More excellent than bounty and good nature ?
Who bringeth speedily his crop to fruit,
And furnisheth two springtides in a year ? "
" One," thus he made reply, " that all unasked
Doth deck his soul with generosity,
But one that hath the praise of the receiver
Regard him not as giving but as trading."
One said : " What are the adornments of a man,
And which is noblest ? "
Buzurjmihr replied : —
" He that is bounteous toward a worthy object ;
He towereth like a cypress in a garden,
And never withereth, but one unworthy,
Though he be set in musk, will savour not ;
No flower will grow upon that arid thorn.
To question of the dumb or of the deaf,
Though thou art justified, is profitless."
" Within this Wayside Inn," another said,
" The sage is not exempt from pain and trouble.
NUSHIRWAN 293
How shall we act that we may win fair fame,
And so begin that nobly we may end ? "
He answered : " Keep from sin ; treat all the world
Afl though it were thyself ; what thou mislikest
Inflict not on another — friend or foe."
Another said : " Which sayest thou of the twain
Is better — labour moderate or great ? "
He answered thus : " From wisdom's standpoint
thought
Alone is worthy. If thou needest fruit
Toil in proportion to the work in hand."
" If we must weep o'er those that are to blame,"
Another asked, " who can deserve our praise ? "
He answered thus : " Whoever hath the most
Of hope and fear and awe of holy God."
Another said : " O thou illustrious
In wisdom and whose head out-toppeth heaven !
What is the goodliest destiny for me
From this exalted and unstable sky ? "
That man of eloquence made answer : " His C. 1665
Who is secure and is exempt from need ;
Him fortune treateth with benevolence
So long as he is just in all his ways."
" What is the knowledge," asked another one,
" Whereby I may be happy in the world ? "
II' answered thus : " That of the patient man,
Who holdeth in contempt the impudent,
And his whose brain is not perturbed by wrath,
And who, though wroth, will wink at others' faults."
Another asked : " What man is he, O sage !
That win IK -ill the approval of the wise ? "
Said Btiznrjmihr : " The man whom wisdom
feedci h.
Who mourneth not the lost but giveth up
His darling to the dust without regret,
Pain, or dismay, rejecteth empty hopes
294 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Like willow's fruit, is always glad and gay,
And careless of the processes of time."
Another said : " What are the faults of kings
Whereby the hearts of righteous men are saddened ?/
He answered : " Wise men say that there are four
The first is terror of the foe in fight ;
The second being niggardly in giving ;
The third rejecting wise advice in war ;
The fourth is hastiness of temperament,
And sleeping not upon their purposes."
Another one inquired : " What man is faultless,
And what is there to blame in noble men ? "
' We call one upright," thus said Buzurjmihr,
" When wisdom beareth witness to his words,
While those that seek by cunning and injustice
To shine are blamed for falsehood and deceit.
Between them is the man of violence,
Abusive, with his head fulfilled with strife,
And who, though meek and humble with the king,
Yet madly persecuteth holy men."
Another said : " What kind of character
Will profit him that seeketh not mishap ? "
" The speaker of the truth is true in all
His deeds," he answered, " governeth his tongue,
Is modest, and soft-voiced amidst of clamour.
Best is the sage who holdeth it unmeet
To banish wisdom for the sake of passion."
Another sage inquired : " Who is the man
That can without mishap transact affairs,
Tend his own life, and profit kith and kin ? "
He thus made answer : " He that from the first
Hath known and sought the door of holy God —
The Source of thy thanksgivings and thy Refuge,
The Lord of day and night, of sun and moon.
Moreover heartily he must obey
The Shah's behests in public and in private,
NUSHfRWAN 295
Tend his own person dearly and shut fast C. 1666
Thereon the door of travail and of greed,
Must care for his own kindred, feed the poor,
And give his children teachers, for the world
Must not be trusted to the ignorant,
And when a son is docile to command
'Tis for the father to make much of him."
" What is the place an upright son should hold,"
Another asked him, " in his sire's esteem ? "
He thus made answer : "In his father's eyes
A glorious son is dear as life itself :
The father's name abideth after death
Because the son will say : * My father taught me.' '
Another asked : " What dost thou see in riches
To grace the heart ? "
He made reply : " The man
Of wealth is honoured though the wealth is vile ;
But there is much that is bound up therewith,
Take heed that thou misprize not these my words,
For, first, whate'er thou hast a mind unto
Will by its nature show if thine be good ;
And, next, for thee to have and not employ
Is to treat stones and royal gems as one."
" Among the kings with fame and lofty crown,"
Another said, " whom callest thou the best ? "
' That king," he made reply, " with whom the good
Dwell safely while the bad quake at his voice :
The earth reposeth underneath his throne."
Another said : " What maketh a man rich,
And who in this world is distressed and poor ? "
He thus replied : " The man that is content
Wit h what the Master of high heaven bestoweth,
While for the man whom fortune favoureth not
There is not any evil worse than greed."
The famous men were full of wonderment
At him and lauded him with one consent.
296 THE SHAHNAMA OF F1RDAUSI
§4
The third Banquet of Nushirwdn to Buzurjmihr and
the Archimages
A se'nnight passed. The eighth day with the dawn
The all-conquering Shah sat on his throne and sum-
moned
Before him all the men of understanding,
The wise and eloquent, who all discoursed
At large, but truly none much pleased the Shah,
Who after said to Buzurjmihr : " Unveil
Thy shamefast face."
That fluent sage set loose
His tongue, displayed his varied lore, and first
He blessed the Shah, and said : " Be this crowned head
Victorious," adding : " None becometh great
Unless he shun the pathway of mishap.
If thou wouldst rise to greatness by thy knowledge
Thou needest wisdom in thy choice of words.
C. 1667 In quest of fame one must be brave, the age
Rejecteth faint-hearts. If thou seek'st the throne
Accomplishments are needed since the bough
That putteth forth its green must bear thee fruit.
When folk make question of accomplishments
'Tis vain to cite mere aptitude,1 for that,
With these to seek, is not approved and worthless.
In dealing with this point a wise man said : —
* If roses savour not forbear to speak
Of colour ; none in fire a stream will seek.'
A king is all the richer for his bounty,
And hath no credit for his secret treasures.
If thou hast claimed attainments justify
What thou hast fairly spoken by thy deeds.
The sage is happy being fed by heaven
1 Or " high lineage."
NUSHIRWAN 297
With wisdom, and the man of simple heart
Because 'tis free from all deceit fulness.
In this world wisdom is a trusty tr.
And the great king's heart is its first of fruits.
Thou wilt be easy if thou art content,
But practise greed and thou wilt quake therefor.
Do not thy kindness in the sight of men,
For thou wilt have small kindness in return.
Good fortune favoureth the open-hearted,
And he is blest who beareth patiently.
Still if a man would rise he must be furnished
With certain things to aid him in the struggle.
. rede and erudition ; secondly,
A ripe experience ; thirdly, friends to help
In time of action and to estimate
The chances every way for good and ill,
And to be profitable afterward
In e very-day life and emergencies.
He needeth, fourthly, rectitude and wisdom
To purge his heart of falsehood and of fraud,
And, fifthly, if thou art possessed of strength
Toil with thy body ; greatness will result.1
The strong unless they labour ne'er will reach
The height of their desires, but over-toil,
Know, endeth in despair. I will set forth
The five characteristics of the sage,
Which to observe involve him not in trouble,
With seven too of the fool, and 'tis no marvel
It he be irked thereby : and, to begin.
No sage is vexed at loss or prematurely
Is glad, for disappointment will perturb him.
He counteth not upon the unattained
So as to break his heart if he should miss it.
He neither hopeth that which ne'er can be,
Nor saith : ' The \\illn\\ -bou^h will bring forth fruit .
1 Couplet omitted.
298 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUS1
When at his ease from travail and from ill
He recketh of the future, wherefore when
Time bringeth hardship on him he will prove
Beforehand and not slack in enterprise.
C. 1 668 The fool's way, as I said, is sevenfold :
His wrath is kindled with the innocent,
His treasure opened to the unworthy man
Without return of meed or recompense,
While, thirdly, he is an ingrate to God,
And is not wise and cognizant of good,
But, fourthly, talketh loudly of himself
To every one and, fifthly, is involved
In pain and loss through his own feckless words ;
He trusteth, sixthly, to untrusty folk,
Expecting thorns to bear him painted silk,
And, lastly, uttereth lies in argument,
Endeavouring to shine by impudence.
Know this, O thou exalted sovereign !
That no man getteth aught but harm from ill.
When any one is mute in company
That silence is melodious to the heart.
By hearing some one wise and eloquent
Thou wilt get provand for thy body, counsel
And prudence for thy heart. Forget not thou
Such words because they crown the throne of knowledge,
If thou wouldst bring that knowledge into bearing
Release thy jewel from its case by speech,
And if thou wouldst extend thy fame draw forth
Thy tongue as 'twere a falchion from its sheath ;
But if thou boldest session with the unwise l
The under then will have the upper hand.
By knowledge are the soul and heart illumed ;
See thou go not about to compass lies.
When one of eloquence is holding forth
Abide his words, be not impatient ;
1 Reading with P.
NUSHIRWAN 299
Thou mayst get wisdom from his utterances,
And afterwards repeat what thou hast heard.
Use not thy wisdom as a means of gain
Though not to do so may result in hardship.
With heart and tongue in an accord of right
The door of loss is barred on every side.
Oh ! may the heart of Nushirwan, the Shah,
Be open to instruction evermore."
An archimage of subtle intellect
Then asked : " What are the good and seemly things
That give a man a lustre in the world,
And quittance from the troubles of the time ? "
He answered thus : " Whoe'er attaineth wisdom
Will gain thereby the fruitage of both worlds."
" But if he hath not wisdom," said the archmage,
" Since wisdom is God's radiant robe of honour ? "
Said Buzurjmihr : " Then knowledge is the best,
The learned is mighty midst the men of might."
" But if," the archmage said, " he hath not sought
That stream and never bathed his soul therein ? "
Thus Buzurjmihr replied : " The warrior
Must count his body as a worthless thing,
And if he striveth in the day of battle,
And layeth foemen's heads upon the dust,
He will be cherished in the great king's heart,
For ever happy and in good command."
" But if one is not valiant," said the archimage, c. 1669
Nor seeketh after knowledge, law, and Faith ? "
Then Buzurjmihr repli« I : 'Twriv \\cll that di-ath
Should set the helm of darkness on his head."
Another asked : " How shall we act that all
Of us may eat the fruitage of the tree
Set by the sage \\ it hin the garth of spring,
And walk moreover underneath its shade ? "
d Buzurjmiln : " The man that barreth up
His tongue from evil vexeth not his soul,
300 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And rendeth not in talk another's skin.
He will be likewise friends with all the folk,
All troubles will be smoothed away for him,
And enemy and friend will be as one."
Another asked him, saying : " Are the men
That shun the way of failure great or good ? "
Thus Buzurjmihr replied : " An evil deed
Is like a tree that beareth evil fruit.
Thus if a man speak gently with his tongue
But little harshness will befall his ear,
For know it is the tongue that troubleth men ;
So if thou wouldst be easy weigh thy words.
The man of few words and a loyal subject
Hath only one fit post — before the throne.
Moreover he escapeth ills not come,
As bird or beast escapeth from the net,
While furthermore he triumpheth o'er evil,
Is self -controlled and wise exceedingly.
He leaveth well alone and troubleth not
The inoffensive, letteth no good 'scape him,
And counteth not upon the days to come.
He shunneth foe with more than quarry's speed,
And cleaveth unto friend like shaft and feather.
For any pleasure that will end in grief
The man of wisdom hath but little yearning.
Put ease and indolence afar from thee,
Take pains and make a feast of toil ; without it
Thou wilt win not addition in the world ;
There is no treasure for the indolent.1
May this world live in Nushirwan, be he
Its world -lord ever and his fortune young."
They held discourse at large upon this theme :
The hearts of those grown drowsy were awakened.
The archimages, magnates, and shrewd sages
Blessed Buzurjmihr and gave the Shah great praise,
Then went rejoicing on their several ways.
1 The two following couplets are transposed.
NUSHIRWAN 301
§5
The fourth Banquet of Nushirwdn to B<> and
the Archimages
Two se'miights passed away and then the Shah
Relinquished public business for a day,
And bade the archimages and great men
Assemble at the palace with the sages.
He asked about the body and its birth, C. 1670
About wrath, peace, the intellect, and just iet -.
About the sovereignty, the crown, and power,*
And how good fortune doth begin and end.
He questioned those archimages and inquiivd
Concerning that which pleased him. When the others
Had spoken as their knowledge was, but failed
To gratify the Shah, he next addressed
Himself to Buzurjmihr and said : " Bring forth
The splendid jewel from its hiding-place."
Then Buzurjmihr gave praises, saying thus : —
" O Shah most loving and serene of heart !
Know that in all the world no king like thee
For justice, understanding, crown, and throne,
For Grace and mien, for counsel and for fortune,
.Hath set the diadem upon his head.
The king that exerciseth self-control
Will be at rest from vengeance and from war
Because to shun unwarrantable deeds
Is better t han to get a sorry heart.
How goodly is the saying of the sage : —
' Self -discipline is goodly in a king.'
In seasons of dispute he feareth God,
Inclineth not to vengeance and to prowess,
And maketh wisdom ruler of his passions
When he is choleric. A monarch's thoughts
Should not displease the Master of the world
302 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
Through whom he doth discern 'twixt good and
evil,
And seeketh Paradise as virtue's meed.
A tongue truth-speaking and a reverent heart
Will be his glory in the world for aye,
While every one that is his counsellor
Will be a man of weight among the people,
Be eloquent, serene of heart, and just,
And give to small and great alike their due
According to the measure of their states.
The man that is the servant of the Shah
Should not be damnified on that account,
And while a monarch holdeth sages dear
His crown will be exalted ; but if he
Shall take the counsel of the ignorant
He will bring down his crown's head underfoot,
For knowledge frighteneth the fool away,
Who in his ignorance is combative.
The world-lord, whose informants are all wise,
Aware of what is going on at court,
And able thus to foil the malcontent,
Will be still glorious. None must sleep aggrieved
Lest ill befall the Shah from that mishap,
Who should ban him deserving chastisement,
The misbegotten and the ill-disposed,
Lest such should trouble those that are offenceless.
All captives in the prisons of the Shah,
The guilty and the innocent alike,
Should be enlarged by the decree of God,
Who thus directed in the Zandavasta.
C. 1671 If one be an ill-doer black and base
The face of earth should be relieved of him,
For while his evil day continueth
He will bring ruin on the homes of men.
The world-lord must rejoice in faith and right
So long as he is in the world as Shah.
NUSHIRWAN 303
Tis his to cleanse it from the wicked Div
In public and in private by the sword.
The king that ruleth his troops well will be
Untroubled by the griefs of suppliants.
When thou art wary of thy foes in counsel
Thine evil-wishers will lose heart. Man all
The breaches of the realm ere war betide.
Whenas the Shah is blamed for anything
Reproach too falleth on the crown and throne,
Through grief the wish is to be quit of him,
And to make wisdom testify thereto.
Let grow the love thou bearest to thy son,
Who is as 'twere the reflex of thy face
In water. Teach him wisdom and good sense,
And seek but to illuminate his soul.
Unlock for him the portal of thy treasures ;
He must have no cause to bewail himself,
And when he putteth forth his hand to wrong
There is no need to break the prince's heart.
Recall him to the way with gentleness,
And keep a hold upon him from the first.
If in his heart thou find hostility
It is an ill weed ; pluck it from his plot,
For if it bideth 'twill grow strong and fill
The garden of the sovereignty with tares ;
But when the at h< ling hath Grace and sense
H<- must not hear the words of evil speakers ;
Still when ihe hand can reach the miscreants
Haste not to bloodshed save at God's command.
Destruction comet h on the royal crown
Through rascal-ministers and \\icki <1 \\ives.
Give fools a hearing, but when they propose
An unjust action do not thou consent,
s needful to fulfil all righteousness,
And clear thine own heart of perversity.
The sole adornment for the mighty Shah
304 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
Is right, for 'tis the Div that causeth wrong.
Now when the Shah shall hearken to these. words
He in his heart will witness unto wisdom,
The crown will call down blessings on the king,
The throne of empire be confirmed to him,
Both will rejoice in him, his foes despair
Of fortune ; while this restless sky revolveth
His good name will be his memorial.
Now may the accomplished soul of Nushirwan
Be young while day endureth."
At his words
The assembly was amazed, compared with them
The counsels of the wise seemed lustreless.
When Nushirwan had listened to this speech
His greatness greatened great although it was.
C. 1672 The counsels given filled his eyes with tears :
He filled the speaker's mouth with lustrous pearls.
Then from the palace with their lips all praise
The company departed on their ways.
§6
The fifth Banquet of Nushirwan to Buzurjmihr and
the Archimages
Thus seven days passed away. Upon the eighth,
Whenas the world -illuming sun blazed forth,
Put off its robe of lapis-lazuli,
And decked the world with golden-hued brocade,
The king of kings sab with the archimages,
The veterans, and officers of state —
Ardshir, the high priest and the chief of nobles,
Shapur and Yazdagird, the scribe, the men
Of science and the readers of the stars,
The wise, the enlightened, and the eloquent.
The youthful Buzurjmihr, the orator,
NUSHIRWAN 305
Came to the presence of Shah Nushirwan,
And did obeisance to his sovereign,
Who joyed at him and thus addressed the sages : —
" Who wotteth aught whereby the Faith of God
May be confirmed, the royal throne kept scathless ? "
Thereat the high priest loosed his tongue amid
chiefs and said : " The justice of the Shah
Will cause his Grace, his crown, and throne to shine,
And when it openeth his treasury-door
His high renown will last when he is dead.
Moreover he should purge his tongue of lies,
And seek not lustre in the world by giiilr.
Next he will be both just and merciful,
And make his throne the glory of the age.
Then too the head of the illustrious Shah
Should be not wrathful with an erring liege,
And, fifthly, he will speak so that his fame
In this world never will grow obsolete ;
He will speak truth in all things small and great,
And never derogate in any thing.
He will esteem withal as his own fortune
The servant of his throne. If wise in words
His speech will be convincing, and his heart
Ne'er satiate of learning and consuming
His brains with thought. All men are set at large
By wisdom and have little cause to wail
At fortune. Wisdom nourisheth the souls
Of sail's, wisdom pointcth out the way
To those that seek. Tear not thy heart, 0 Shah !
I in wisdom's path, for wisdom fosteret h
Fame and a noble end. Base and a fool
Is he that ever said : * I am the man.
Because there is no peer to me in knowledge/ '
Then Yazdagird, the scribe, spake thus and said : — c. 1673
" O wise and wisdom-loving Shah ! in Shahs
It is a thing unseemly to shed blood,
VOL. Yll. U
306 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Or suffer trifles to disturb the heart.
Moreover when the king is light of wit
He putteth hand to matters thoughtlessly,
While, further, he is hasty with the wise,
And all the more so through his ignorance.
When lust for vengeance hath possessed his heart
The Div is the associate of his soul ;
So too a judge's words, if he be hasty,
Lead not to fair results. The warrior,
Moreover, that is fearful of his life
In battle-time, not of disgrace, and he
Whose heart, though he be rich, is mean and narrow,
Were better hidden underneath the ground.
Authority becometh not a beggar,
Since he himself becometh not high rank.
A guileful elder is a hateful thing,
And after death his soul will be in fire.
When any youth is slack in business
The heart of fortune will grow sick of him,
Disease will make him prematurely old,
And may his vigour and his spirit cease."
When Buzurjmihr had heard these goodly words,
And had adorned his brain with wisdom's lore,
He said : "0 Shah whose face is like the sun's !
May shining heaven be at thy dispose.
Know this : that men of wisdom will sustain
Their souls with knowledge since the hearts of stones
And mountains sorrow o'er the ignorant,
For none respecteth him. He knoweth not
End from beginning, fame from infamy.
The common folk, still more the wisdom-seekers,
Despise the doings of such men as these —
The lying judge unhonoured by the sage ;
The general who guardeth well his treasure,
And is abandoned by his toil-worn troops ;
The sage that feareth not to do amiss
NV SHIR WAN 307
If he can have enjoyment therewithal :
The leech that aileth ; how can he cure others ?
The mendicant that braggeth of his wealth
While that whereof he talketh is but naught ;
A Shah who letteth not his people rest,
Or sleep at night, disquieting their hearts,
And yet when favouring breezes blow on thee
Assumeth all the merit for himself ;
A choleric sage who eyeth others' goods,
And lastly he that counselleth a fool,
Or giveth the indolent authority.
They that lack wisdom and acquire it not
\Yill have occasion to repent their words.
The heart of any man, my gracious lord !
That hath not wisdom wrestleth with desire
In such wise as a flame devoureth brimstone, c. 1674
Or maketh provand of a bed of reeds.
Long live the heart of Nushirwan, may he
Have this world's chiefs his servitors to be."
§7
The sixth Banquet of Nushinodn to Buzurjmihr and
the Archimages
The Shah allowed another week to pass,
Tin -n issued orders to prepare the court,
Came and assumed his seat upon the throne
Of gold, with armlets, crown, and golden gird I ( •.
On one hand was the arch mage that was vizir.
And on the other Yazdagird the scribe,
Wliilr round liiin \\< -iv 1 1n- <>1 her archimages,
The chiefs, and Bu/uijmihi the eloqu<
To whom the Shah : Why keep the jewels hidden
Those words u hi< h are a profit to the soul,
And make the unprized man of high estate 1
308 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
The speaker's treasure is not minished,
While 'tis a pleasure to the listener."
Thus spake the archimage to Buzurjmihr : —
" O thou more famous than the turning sky !
Know'st thou the thing whose more will harm, whose
less
Will strengthen thee ? "
He thus made answer, saying : —
" By eating less thou wilt be easier
In body and withal feed up thy soul,
But by too much well-doing wilt advance
Thy rival."
Then said Yazdagird, the scribe : —
" 0 man of eloquence and heedful mind !
What are the heart's three 1 secret blemishes
Which men retain although they need them not ? "
He answered : "In the first place thou must purge
Thy heart of all censoriousness, for none
In this world publicly or privily
Is free from fault. A chieftain, jealous of thee,
Will weep 2 on growing thine inferior,
While, thirdly, he that is a slanderer —
The man of double face — endeavoureth
To raise dust e'en from water." 3
Then the archmage
Inquired : " O thou that art supreme in knowledge !
None in this world is franchised from desire,
Which may be hidden or exposed to all.
Supposing ways to gratify it open,
So that 'tis manifestly in one's power,
In my case which way will advantage me,
And which result in travail, pain, and loss ? "
He answered thus and said : " The ways are twain,
And thou canst journey either at thy choice,
c. 1675 One is the way of rashness, full of ill,
1 Reading with P. 2 With envy. 3 Three couplets omitted.
NVSHIRWAN 309
The other that of wisdom and well-doing,1
And therein wisdom is the guide for thee —
A fact that is beyond all questioning.
God's robe of honour is upon the sage ;
Observe what man is worthy of that gift.
No one will purchase one of giant strength
Devoid of wisdom. In defect thereof
It is not well to live, for God is witness
That wisdom is the very life of life.
The man that hath acquired a base of knowledge
Is fitted for the warfare and the struggle.
First, let thy knowledge make thee turn to God,
Who is and who will be for evermore.
By faith in Him thou hast thy heart's desire,
And hast attained the goal whereto thou spedest.
Another point of knowledge is that thou
Shouldst use discretion in the choice of food .
{Strive after purity in food and raiment,
And thus uphold the ordinance of God.
When thou hast need to earn thy daily bread
Run not to misers for their help and treasure,
But let thy choice be of some business
Whose reputation will not sink repute.
Make to thyself a friend of some great man,
Who can assist thee when thou art in straits.
Be silent when thou art in company
If thou wouldst win the praise of every one.
But if thou speak'st speak that which hast learned,
And branded on thy liver. Weigh thy words,
Not the dinars within thy treasury,
For to a wise man treasures are but vile.
When thou art speaking let thy tongue be shrewd,
Make it thy shaft and let thy bow be wisdom.
Be not imprudent when a fight is toward,
But guard thy body from the enemy,
» Couplet omitted.
310 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And when he hath arrayed the host against thee
Be prudent and preserve thy self-control.
When thou beholdest thine antagonist
Thy face must pale not. Thou wilt be victorious
If thou art prompt, but slackness will undo thee.
Be wary as thou urgest on thy steed,
And watch the weapons of thine opposite.
If he is eager do not turn away,
And choose thee prudent fellow-combatants ;
But strive not and have sense to quit the fight
On finding that thou art no match for him.
Thus tender too thy body when thou eatest ;
Food should not harm thee ; eating much will do it,
While taking little will increase thy strength.
Make not thyself a carfax at thy meals,
But always leave off with an appetite.
Use wine but use it for refreshment only,
For drunkards hear no praise from any one.
C. 1676 If thou adore God thou wilt be commended,
The world will be a head and thou the eye.
Let all thy converse be of the Creator
With adoration for the base thereof.
Profoundly watch the occasion when to act,
And when to take repose by night and day.
Select the mean in every enterprise,
In making peace as well as waging war.
All wind and water blent with dust art thou ;
Forget not thou the way of holy God.
Think more about thy worship than thy meals ;
Be still a novice though the law is old ;
Incline to good ; acknowledge benefits ;
Attribute all to Him who made the world ;
Prefer not lust to wisdom and advice,
Or wisdom will regard thee not thenceforth ;
Go not about to compass wickedness,
But being wise adorn thyself with virtues.
NUSHIRWAN 311
He that is good in public and in private
Is most to be commended in the world.
Teach to thy son the business of the scribe
That he may be as life to thee and thine,
And as thou wouldest have thy toils bear fruit
Grudge not in>t nu tors to him, for this art
Will bring a youth before the throne and make
The undeserving fortune's favourite.
Of all professions 'tis the most esteemed,
Exalting even those of lowly birth.
A ready scribe who is a man of rede
Is bound to sit e'en in the royal presence,
And, if he be a man of diligence,
Will have uncounted treasure from the Shah,
While if endowed with fluency and style
II- will be studious to improve himself,
liis endeavours to be more concise,
And put his matter more attractively.
The scribe hath need to be a man of wisdom,
Of much endurance and good memory,
A man of tact, accustomed to court-ways,
A holy man whose tongue is mute for evil,
A man of knowledge, patience, truthfulness,
A man right trusty, pious, and well-favoured.
If thus endowed he cometh to the Shah
H eannot choose but sit before the throne."
Whena^ the king had listened to these words
His heart grew fresh as roses in the spring,
And he addressed the high priest thus : " Go to,
Give Biizurjmihr advancement. Claim for him
A robe of honour fitted for his st;
And money : lie hath made our hearts el .
313 THE SHlHNAMA OF F1RDAUSI
§8
The seventh Banquet of Nushinvdn to Buzurjmihr and
the Archimages
A se'nnight passed, the Sun lit up his crown,
And came and sat upon the ivory throne,
Together with the high priest, the grandees,
The world -aspiring and shrewd-hearted sages,
c. 1677 With Sada and with Yazdagird, the scribe,
And as their leader the astute Bahman.
Then spake the Shah to Buzurjmihr and said : —
" Adorn our hearts and show to us the way.
Speak truth about me as thou knowest it,
And seek not this world's honours by deceit.
How should men give obedience to my hest,
Observe my counsels, and act loyally ?
Speak at thine ease and speak without reserve :
Dress not plain words with colour and with scent."
Thus Buzurjmihr, the shrewd, said to the Shah :—
" O more exalted than the azure vault !
The service of the monarch of the earth
Is, saith the sage, the path -way of the Faith.
The orders of the Shah brook no delay,
Because the Shah's heart never must be straitened,
And every one that is his enemy
Is in his soul the liege of Ahriman.
The heart that loveth not the monarch's person
Should forfeit brain and skin. Know that the Shah
Is the world's peace, and when thou dost aright
He will advance thee. Both for good and ill
The power is his, he taketh not revenge,
And injureth none. Wish not his son to fill
His room but hold his dear face as thy life.
Want never findeth entrance to the soil
Of states whose monarch is their well-beloved.
NUSHIRWAN 313
His Grace will fend thee from all ill, for why
His fortunes nurse all virtue. When a king
Hath God's Grace on his face the world's heart laugheth
For joy. As thou partakest of his favours
Strive ever to give ear to his commands.
If thou shalt grow disloyal, e'en in thought.
That moment fortune will abandon thee.
If he associate with thee be not proud,
And if he banish thee revile him not.
Mark that a subject toiling for his king
Will in the toil find treasure and renown.
He that shall praise the monarch is of God,
And he that is of God will praise the monarch.
The liege must neither weary of his work,
X«»r yet be slack in fight, must keep concealed
The counsel of the Shah and tell it not
To sun and moon. One that is slack to do
The Shah's commands doth outrage to himself.
Accursed are the blossoms of the tree
That scattereth naught but leaves o'er crown and
throne.
Calumniate not his lieges to the Shah,
Or thou wilt minish thine esteem with him :
Great liars get small lustre in kings' eyes.
Let no one utter in the royal presence
Words that are not conformable with wisdom :
Hut . if the Shah shall ask thee, speak, not losing
Thy credit with him by loquacity,
Heeansr then- i^ more knowledge in the world c. 1678
Than ears can hear in public and in private.
H< whom the monarch of the world mispri/eih.
That soul will lie in pain for evermore,
While he will he in high esteem on whom
The Shah'.- lips smile. It he shall show thee favour
Hug not thyself, old servant though thou be,
For, though thy service may have lasted long,
314 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Know that thou art not indispensable,
And if he favoureth another man
'Tis doubtless one as loyal as thyself.
If he shall be displeased with thee in aught
Make thine excuses ere thou drawest breath,
And if thou wottest naught of thine offence
Lay bare thy heart in presence of the Shah,
While if thou hast a grievance in thy heart
Break it but show not unto him thy face,
Lest by God's Grace he should discern thy secret,
Discern thy heart perverse and clouded mind.
Thereafter thou wilt get no good of him,
Not hearken to his accents warm with love.
Account the Shah's court as a sea where lieges
Are sailors, and accomplishments are vessels
With words for anchors and with wits for sails.
A wise man, who is voyaging o'er that sea,
Will make his sails robust because they are
A source of strength and shelter to himself.
The accomplished man, whose wisdom is to seek,
Should tread not on the portal of the Shah.
Although the Shah should be a mount of fire
Still would his servants find existence good,
For if such fire burn at the time of wrath
It will but shine the more when gratified.
The Shah at whiles is milk and honey, whiles
A biting bane. His acts are like the sea ;
The moon is bright in heaven at his behest.
One getteth from the sea a pinch of sand,
Another hath the pearl within the shell.
Be all the world alive in Nushirwan,
And circling heaven aye subject to his will,
For he doth head the monarchs of the world,
And ornament the empire with all good."
To Buzurjmihr's oration Nushirwan
Gave heed, heart-joyed to look on him. The king
NV SHIR WAN 315
Was wont to give his largess on this wise :
If he said " Good ! " the largess was four purses,
But whensoe'er he said : " Good ! very good ! "
The gift amounted in that case to forty,
And when the treasurer reckoned with the Shah
Each purse was taken at ten thousand drachms.1
The king of kings had said : " Good ! very good ! "
A speech equivalent to all that coin.
Tlu« treasurer brought \\itli visage sunny-clear
The purses full of drachms to Buzurjmihr.
1 Cf. p. 215, note.
PART III
THE STORY OF MAHBUD AND OTHER MATTERS
ARGUMENT
The poet tells how Mahbud, sometime chief minister of Nuslrirwan
and a virtuous and blameless man, was done to death by the
machinations of Zuran, the chamberlain, and of a Jewish sorcerer,
how too late Nushirwan discovered the plot, put the chamberlain
and the Jew to death, and made all the amends in his power.
The poet then tells how the presents sent by the Khan of Chin
to Nushirwan were plundered on the way by the Haitalians, of
the wars that followed and how Nushirwan married the daughter
of the Khan. Firdausi then discourses of the justice of Nushirwan,
of the happiness and prosperity of the world under his adminis-
tration, and of the tribute paid to him by Csesar and other
potentates. The Part ends witli a discourse of Buzurjmihr's on
good words and good deeds.
NOTE
§§ i and 2. Shah Kubad had left several sons, of whom
Nushirwan was not the eldest, but he was the heir to the throne
by his father's appointment, who appears also to have made some
arrangement for his recognition as such with the Emperor Justin,
or at all events to have suggested it. On Kubad's death his eldest
son, Kaus, claimed the throne, but the prime minister Mahbud
(Mebodes) was in a position to indicate what Kubad's wishes on
the subject had been, and Nushirwan became Shah. Another
brother of his, however, Jam by name, was very popular but
disqualified for the throne by a personal defect. In these circum-
stances a conspiracy was formed to overthrow Nushirwan and
make Jam's son, Kubad, Shah with Jam himself as regent, Kiihad
being still a child. The conspiracy, which had much influential
support, was discovered, and a clean sweep — the usual course in
such cases — made of the conspirators and all their male relations
with the exception of Kubad, who ultimately escaped to Con-
316
NVSHIRWAN 317
stantinople and was well received by the Emperor Justinian.
There is no account of the conspiracy in the Shahnama, but it has
been mentioned here because the poisoning incident and the
drastic vengeance that followed may have been transferred from
it to the story of the fall of Mahbud as given in the poem. The
rii account of the fall of Mahbud is entirely different.1
§ i. Milk, which " turns" so easily, especially in a hot climate,
would be regarded as more sensitive to evil influences than other
foods. Cf. Burton's Supplemental Nights, vol iv. p. 243 and note.
§ 2. In view of Nushirwan's tardy repentance and his reparation
to the kindred of Mahbud it is interesting to find a Mebodes in
high command in the Persian army in A.D. 578. 2
The account of the building of Sursan is a doublet of that
of Zib-i-Khusrau.3
§§4-11. At this point the Turks come historically upon the
scene under the leadership of their Khan, whom Tabari calls
Sinjibu. In A.D. 569 or 570 they threatened to invade Iran, and
Nushirwan sent his son Hurmuzd against them. As Hurmuzd
was the son of the daughter of the Khan it is evident that the
alliance between Sinjibu and Nushinvaii mu.-t have l>een entered
into at a considerably earlier period. The object of the alliance
was to crush the Haitalians, and this was done. Nushirwan
occupied their territory up to the Oxus — the old traditional
boundary of Iran — while the Khan annexed all to the north of
that river, but, according to Persian accounts, withdrew on the
approach of Hurnui/d. Firdausi does not mention Nushirwairs
wars with the Haitalians, and represents them as being the
aggressors. No doubt they would do their best to prevent friendly
relations between their two formidable neighbours. Later on the
Kh;iii, as Tabari tells us, hearing from the vanquished Haitalians
that Iran had been tributary to them, wished to assert his claim to
a similar payment and marched southwards, as mentioned above,
with that object. He found, however, the frontier of Iran too well
guarded and soon withdrew.4
§ u. For the so-called tribute ]>aid by Rum to fran see p. 187,
and for t h f Azargashasp, p. 5.
§ 13. See p. 278. T la ..f (;<,..d Thoughts, Good Words,
>od Deeds plays an important part in Zoroastrianism. One
of the most beautiful passages in tin- Z.mdavasta, Yasht XXII,
1 Set- NT. p. 147, note; ( . IIS.M. p. :J77 «<q.
- I 'I. ; * See p. 259. 4 NT, p. 150 and notes.
~"\. .,. :>,\\ <cq.
31 8 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
deals with the subject and may be paraphrased briefly and
metrically thus : —
Once Zoroaster asked, so Text and Comment saith,
" How fares the good man's soul when he has tasted death ? "
And this was Heaven's reply : " The soul still sits anigh
Its tenement of clay for thrice a day and night,
And chants the sacred hymns in uttermost delight.
It sings: ' Oh ! happy he, the man whoe'er he be,
To whom the Great God grants all that he longed to see ! '
And after that third night, at breaking of the dawn,
Mid lovely plants and scents that good man's soul is borne,
And from the South will come a perfume-laden air,
The sweetest breath e'er breathed ; and then white-armed and
fair,
Bright, beautiful, and young, a Maid will meet him there ;
Whereat the good man's soul will question : ' Who art thou,
For never have I looked on loveliness till now ? '
And she will make reply : ' Thy Conscience, youth ! am I.
Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds, have made me thus
to be,
And they were all thine own, and I grew thus through
thee.'' "
§1
The Story of Mahbud, the Wazir of Nushirwdn, and how
Mahbud and his Sons were slain by the Sorcery of Zurdn
and a Jew
c. 1679 This matter ended, I proceed to tell
The story of Mahbud, the minister.
Cease not from learning for a moment's spell,
And let not knowledge cause thy heart to err.
When thou shalt say : " My lust for wisdom I
Have satisfied and learned all needful lore,"
Fate playeth off some pretty trickery,
And putteth thee to discipline once more.
Now hearken to a rustic minstrel's lay,
NUSHIRWAN 319
Ta'en from the legends of a time long sped ; l
I questioned him of ages past away,
And this is what of Xushirwan he said : —
He had an upright minister, a man
Of vigilance, who was his treasurer,
Whose heart was full of wisdom and whose rede
Was right, whose sole ambition was fair fame.
This man so well disposed was named Mahbud :
I 1 is soul and heart were full of good discourse.
He had two sons like jocund spring who served
Continually before the king, for he,
What time he was about to mutter prayer,
Or use the archimages' sacred twigs,2
Ate only what Mahbud himself provided,
And trusted those two sons. He used to have
His kitchen in Mahbud 's house and demeaned
Himself as guest, and that good, famed man's sons
mselves brought in the great king's meal. The
nobles
Were wont to weep for envy of Mahbud
At court. There was a magnate, one Zuran,
Whose aspirations all were centred there.
He was an old man and Sh&h's chamberlain,
Conspicuous at feasts and audiences ;
His visage ran with tears the whole year through c l68o
In envy of Mahbud and his two sons.
'Twas his endeavour to incense the Shah
Against the doings of that holy man,
Yet failed to find an opening for slander
To set the monarch's mind against Mahbud ;
I Jut how should h< — that man of wisdom — know
That he possessed an enemy at court
<-e never had he cause to pale one whit
For all the words and practice of that knave ?
1 Seven cou |.|<-(H omitted.
* See Vol. i. p. 80 t.v. Bdj and Barsam.
320 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
A Jew, it happened, borrowed of Zuran
One day some money to employ in trade.
He came and went, his influence grew, and he
Became that gloomy soul's associate.
Thus, as familiar with the chamberlain,
He came to be at home about the court,
And there one day conversed in confidence
Of spells, of court, the monarch of the world,
Of magic, necromancy, and black arts,
Of crooked practices and villainy.
Zuran, attending to the Jew's discourse,
And hearing of the secrets of his craft,
Told his own secret to the Jew, and said : —
" Discourse not of it save with me alone.1
Thou must perform a deed of sorcery,
And give the age its riddance of Mahbud,
Because he hath attained to such high state
That he will dominate the age itself.
He careth not for any. Thou wouldst say,
To put it shortly : * He is Nushirwan.'
Now he — the world-lord — will not take of food
Save only at the hands of this man's sons,
Who hath become so great through royal favour
That heaven kisseth evermore his skirt."
The Jew replied : " This cause need not increase
Thy grief. What time the Shah and world-lord taketh
The sacred twigs mark well what meats are served,
And see if there be any milk therein.
Meet thou the serving-man and sniff the meats ;
'Twill serve if I but see the milk from far.
Then thou shalt see Mahbud and his two sons
No more alive. Though he be brass or stone
That eateth he will perish instantly."
Zuran attended to these words. His heart
Was freshened as he gazed upon the Jew ;
1 Reading with P.
NV SHIR WAN 321
Whene'er he went to court the Jew went likewise ;
They had their secrets, joys, and feasts in common.
A season passed with matters in this stay :
The court was haunted by that evil teacher,
That court whereto each dawn Mahbud's two sons
Were wont to turn their steps so joyfully.
Behind the curtains of their noble father
There was a pious dame and well advised,
Who, when Shah Nushirwan desired some food,
Was wont to spread a golden tray for him,
And lay thereon three platters set with jewels ; C. 1681
The whole was covered with a golden napkin.
And used to come before the exalted Shah,
Served by the two sons of the good Mahbud.
The food consisted of rose-water, milk.
And honey. Nushirwan would eat and sleep.
One day it happened that the two young men
Were going with the tray to Nushirwan ;
It was conveyed upon a servant's head
To whom 'twas usual to entrust the food.
Zuran, the chamberlain, beheld the tray
When coming to the palace of the Shah,
And with a smile addressed the two youths thus : —
" Ye trusty lieges of Shah Nushirwan !
Reveal for once the colour of these meats—
The Shah's repast — because they savour well :
Withdraw the silken cover just this once."
The young men readily displayed the food.
Zuran, who kept his distance, gazed thereon,
And in like manner did the Jew, who came,
When he had marked the colour of the meats,
And said thus to the chamberlain : " The tree
That thou hast planted cometh into fruit .
The two young men, both wise and vigilant,
Then carried in the tray to Nushirwan,
While after them Zuran came quick as dust,
VOL. VII. X
322 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And thus addressed the Shah, that noble man : —
" 0 Shah, the just, the favoured by the stars !
Touch not these meats till they be tasted first.1
The cook hath mingled poison with the milk,
And may thine enemies partake thereof."
Shah Nurshirwan, on hearing, turned his gaze
On those two youths whose mother was the cook —
A prudent dame affectioned of her kin.
They in their innocence and rectitude
Rolled up their sleeves. Howbeit when they ate
Some of that milk and honey thou hadst said : —
" Both have been stricken by an arrow." Both
Swooned on the spot and died there in the presence
Of Nushirwan ! The monarch of the world
Beheld, his cheeks like flower of fenugreek,
And gave commandment : " Let them raise in dust
The mansion of Mahbud, respecting none,
Upon that dust let them cut off his head,
And may he and his cook both cease to be."
None in the palace of Mahbud, and few
Among his kindred in the world, survived.
The Shah gave all his goods, his women, children,
And hoarded wealth, to spoil. In that affair
Zuran attained his wish, since Nushirwan
C. 1682 Was quit of that good man, and held the Jew
In high esteem who cloud ward raised his head.
Heaven turned awhile with matters in this stay
While from the Shah right hid its face away.
1 Couplet omitted.
NtiSHIRWAN 323
§2
How the Sorcery ofZurdn and the Jew in the Matter of Mahbud
was discovered, and how both were slain by Command of
Nushirwdn
The Shah, the world-lord, purposed, as it chanced,
To hunt the wolf and bade that many a steed,
Used in the chase, should pass before his eyes,
Scanned them, and saw the brand -mark of Mahbud.
His cheeks flamed at those Arab horses, love
Still had a place within him, and he burned.
He wept for pain and with heart sorely seared
Recalled to mind Mahbud, and thus he said : —
" How much the wicked Div made to transgress
That man of counsel and of high degree !
With that devotion and that rectitude
Why did his spirit seek the path of loss ? l
The Master of the world alone can tell
The hidden truth beneath the outward show."
He thence departed to the hunting-ground,
Seared at his heart and followed by his men.
Upon the route he talked with all and cheered
His heart with words. He took full many a minstrel,
And with their fascinations docked the way.
Now as the Shah's chief minister and scribes
Were journeying with Zuran in company
Thrir converse ran on spells and magic arts,
On witchcraft and pernicious Ahriman.
The king said to the archmages : " Trouble not
Your hearts concerning sorcery, but let
Your talk be all of God and of the Fait h :
Look not for marvels in black arts and magic."
X 11 ran said : " Live for ever, and may wisdom
Feed on thy words. All that they say of witchcraft
1 Reading with P.
324 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Is true, though this is known but to adepts.
If food have milk therein they by a look
Can from a distance turn it into bane."
On hearing this a bygone time recurred
To Nushirwan. He thought upon Mahbud,
And those two sons of his, and deeply sighed.
He looked upon Zuran but held his peace,
And quickly urged his prancing charger on.
His mind was in a fume with thought because
Zuran had been the foeman of Mahbud.
C. 1683 He said : "I know not what this miscreant
Had done upon the day whereon I slew
Mahbud, and that great house was overthrown.
Would that almighty God would make all plain,
And give my heart and brain tranquillity,
Because I spy this fellow's marks hereon,
And am fulfilled with sorrow for the past."
He journeyed on with sad and aching heart,
With lowering visage and with tearful eyes,
And, having reached the ending of the stage,
Set up his camp-enclosure by a stream.
Now when Zuran had reached the tent they cleared
The place of strangers and the converse ran
Upon the means of witching milk and honey.
" It is my favourite subject," said Zuran.
The Shah then questioned him about Mahbud,
And by what means his sons were done to death,
And heard the quaver in Zurari's reply.
His crime became apparent. Nushirwan
Addressed him, saying : " Tell to me the truth,
Conceal it not and act not knavishly,
For knavery but causeth evil deeds,
And evil comrades will corrupt good hearts."
Zuran told all the truth, revealed the secret,
Threw all the blame upon the Jew, and made
As though he were possessed by grief and anguish.
NTJSHIRWAN 325
The great king, having listened, fettered him,
And sent to that enchanter of a Jew,
As swift as smoke, a rider with two steeds.
Whenas the Jew had reached the lofty court
The exalted monarch questioned him with mildness,
And said : " Inform me how the matter went,
And lie not to me touching this affair."
The Jew asked for protection from the world-lord
If he revealed the mystery of black art,
And then told what Zuran had said with all
The matter of their secret conference.
The world-lord heard with wonder and convoked
The marchlords, potentates, and archimages,
And in their presence for the second time
Investigated every circumstance.
The evil-minded Jew told everything
Till naught was hidden from the chiefs. The Shah
Then bade the deathsman rear two lofty gibbets,
From each whereof a twisted lasso hung,
Before the palace-portal in the presence
Of all the host. The executioner
Haled to the gibbets and suspended there
Zuran on one, the Jew upon the other,
In savage wise. 'Neath showers of stones and arrows
They gave their heads up for bewitching milk.
Tread not the world for evil, for it will,
Past doubt, befall the practiser of ill.
The Shah long sought for kindred of Mahbud, c. 1684
If so he might find one that had escaped,
And found one damsel of unsullied name,
And three men eminent and excellent.
To these he gave all that Zuran possessed,
As well as all the fortune of the Jew.
His soul kept burning on Mahbud 's account,
And in 1 1n night he wept till it was day,
Would pray to God for pardon and pour fon h
326 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
His heart's blood on his bosom. He bestowed
Much largess on the mendicants and made
His tongue moreover prayerful unto God
That He might pardon what was done amiss,
And call him not tyrannic and unjust.
The worshipper of Gcd, the pure of heart,
Will in no evil doings bear a part,
For though ill actions are not hard to do,
Yet in the end the heart is sure to rue.
Although thy heart shall be a flinty stone,
Yet in the end its secret will be known,
And low soever as thy voice may be
Time also will reveal the mystery,
While, even if the world shall not regard,
Good done in secret is its own reward.
If thou art innocent and pure of rede
A portion in both worlds will be thy meed.
§3
In Praise of the Wisdom of Nushirwdn, and how he
built the City of Sursdn
The matter of Zuran and of the Jew
Is done, to wisdom now thy praise is due.
Just though thou art here is no tarrying ;
Thy fame will be thy memory, 0 king !
The unjust sovereign, when all is done,
Will have but sepulchre and malison,
But if in heart thou dealest righteously
Know that the world hath gained new grace by thee ;
So if, O chief ! thou wilt have praise in death
Let wisdom be thy leaf that flourisheth.
Thus, through my words, though Nushirwan is dead,
His justice hath achieved fresh lustihead.
NVSHIRWAN 327
As soon as all the world acknowledged him
He used his greatness only to win praise,
Both great and small reposed in peace while wolf
And sheep were watered at one fount. The mighty
Did service to him and were fain to have
His name upon their diadems, the neck
Had respite from the clasp of habergeon,
The warriors loosed their coats of mail, the shoulder
Had ease from sparth and sword, and naught was heard
But sounds of mirth. None strove against the world-
lord,
The tribute and the taxes everywhere
Were paid. He took toil easily and loved c. 1685
The gear of chase and riding-ground. He sat
Within his palace arabesqued with gold,
And uttered counsel even in his cups.
He built a city on the road to Rum
About two leagues in length. Within were mansions,
And halls and gardens, on one hand a river
And, on the other, heights. He built himself
A palace in the city with a hall
Of audience arabesqued with gold ; the vaulting
Was all in gold and silver, with the gold
Inlaid with divers kinds of precious stones.
J I « • built a cupola of ebony
And ivory with figures of the same
And teak. Artificers from Rum and Hind,
Whoever was a master in his craft,
And had inherited his master's skill.1
With all the illustrious artists of Iran.
As well as from the province of Nimruz,
He gathered in that city, for it was
At once a great seat and a place of trade.
The prisoners of war brought from Barbar,
From Rum, and from the parts laid desolate,
i haps " Or had been recommended by his master."
328 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
He furnished with a dwelling-house apiece,
And made the city one of aliens.
The Shah, the glory of the provinces,
Made of that city an attractive spot,
And, when complete, encircled it with hamlets.
The Shah provided tracts of arable ;
The soil was fruitful and the trees bore well.
He settled there the hostages from Luch,
Gilan, and other ravaged provinces,
Assigning occupation to each man,
And gave to each a helper if alone.
He furnished artisans, field-labourers,
And men to measure and survey the land,
Along with traders and with devotees,
With men of station and with underlings.
He decked that city as 'twere Paradise ;
The eye marked no unseemly spot therein.
He called the city by the name Sursan,
For world-lords take delight in festivals.1
His only aim in public and in private
Was justice and the improvement of the world.
Since from the kingship time bare him away,
And made his crown another's to possess,
'Twill grant not thee an ever-during stay,
So purge thy heart of deeds of wickedness.
Know that this world is but a tricky show ;
Man keepeth nothing be it high or low.
§4
The Story of the War of the Khan with Ghdtkar, the Prince of
the Haitdlians, the defeat of Ghdtkar, and how they set
Faghdnish2 upon the Throne
C. 1686 Hear how the Khan and the Haitalians fought,
And since a fight is toward take thy mace.
1 Sur, a feast. 2 Faghanf (Chaghanf ?) in original. Cf. p. 333.
NUSHIRWAN 329
Thus said the rustic bard, that noble one ;
Keep thou in mind what thou shalt hear from him : —
Of all the chiefs possessed of Grace and justice,
Of men of war, of treasure, and high birth,
Omitting Nushirwan, there was not one
To match the Khan of Chin in all the world.
All people from that realm to the Jihun
Paid homage to him as their sovereign.
That chief with troops, with treasure, and with crown.
Was camped on the Gulzaryun upon
The further side of Chach. Reports had spread,
Among the great men and throughout the world,
Of Nushirwan, his manhood, knowledge, Grace,
His greatness and imperial usages.
Then was it that the Khan, that prudent man,
I )< -sired to win the friendship of the king.
He sat awhile with his own counsellors,
And all the men of name were gathered there.
In his desire for amity he sought
The counsel of the nobles and the priests,
Got ready presents that exceeded count —
All keepsakes worthy of a king's acceptance —
Of Human chargers and brocade of Chin,
Of thrones and crowns and swords and signet-rings ;
He got him ready five-score camel-loads
Of sundry trinkets that the land produced,
And bade his treasurer provide as largess
A hundred thousand of dinars of Chin.
He also brought and added to the present
Ten camel-loads of drachms out of his treasures.
He then chose out a man of eloquence
Among his chiefs — a wise and travelled man —
And called a scribe before him with command
To write a letter from the Khan of Chin
< >n silk, as was the custom of the country,
Profuse in courteous greetings to the Shah.
330 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
The envoy's way lay through the Haitalians' land —
A route beset by shaft and battleax —
Before whose ruler stood a host whose lines
From Sughd extended down to the Jfliun.
That people's ruler hight Ghatkar the brave —
The most distinguished of their warriors —
Who when he heard of what the Khan had done,
And of his presents to the Iranian king,
Called from the host his veterans, discoursed
To them at large about the case, and said : —
0, 1687 " Til hath befallen us from the stars. If now
The monarch of Iran and Khan of Chin
Negotiate and thus become good friends,
That friendship will hold menace for ourselves-,
And this our state be wasted on two sides.
We needs must make a foray and deprive
The envoy of his life."
He chose among
The troops a man of name, of rank, and prowess,
Such as befitted, gave up all that wealth,
The camels and the steeds caparisoned,
To plunder and cut off the envoy's head.
One horseman of those warriors of Chin
Escaped. Now when the tidings reached the Khan
His heart was filled with grief, his head with vengeance,
He marched an army from Kachar Bashi ;
No chief was left in Chin or in Khutan.
He let no scion of Afrasiyab,
Or of Arjasp, partake of rest and sleep.
They all marched forth to the Gulzaryun
With full hearts and with heads set on revenge.
The captain of the army of the Khan
Of Chin was Funj, who made dust reek to heaven.
At Chach the fury of the horsemen flushed
The waters of Gulzaryun rose-red.
Ghatkar heard of the doings of the Khan,
NUSHIRWAN 331
And chose an army from the Haitalians,
An army that obscured the sun, and called
For treasure, money, troops, and arms from Balkh,
Shaknan, Amwf, the Zam, Khatlan, Tirmid,
And Wisagird ; he gathered troops from all sides ;
From mount and waste, from sands and places bare,
They seethed like ants and locusts. When the Khan
Had passed the mighty river with his host,
Wit h drums and lusty elephants, he massed
His powers round Mai and Margh ; the sun became
As dusky as a falcon's plumes.1 Bukhara
Was all fulfilled with mace and ax, for there
The ruler of the Haitalians was encamped.
Ghatkar had come forth with a mighty host,
And gathered all the native chiefs. The troops
Advanced from every quarter to the war,
And left the wind no way. What with the flashing
Of chieftains' swords and play of massive maces,
Thou wouldst have said : " Now iron hath a tongue,
And air a mace for its interpreter ! "
A wind arose, rose too the army's dust,
And light departed from the sun and moon.
Men of Kashan and Sughd were gathered there.
Tears filled the eyes of all — men, women, children —
As to the issue of that battlefield, C 1688
And whom the circling sun and moon would favour.
For one whole week those battle-loving hosts
Were opposites. On all sides lay the slain
In heaps, and dust and stones were cercis-like
\\ithblood. So thick were spear, mace, sparth, and
sword
That tliou hadst said: "The clouds are raining
stones ! "
The sun evanished in the reek ; dust filled
The eyes of eagles as they flew. It veered,
1 Couplet omitted.
332 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Upon the eighth day, 'gainst Ghatkar, the world
Was all bedarkened like night azure-dim,
The Haitalians were overthrown, irreparably
For years, the wounded scattered everywhere,
And all the march was full of slain and captives.
The living from their hearts invoked God's name,
And said to one another : " Ne'er have we
Seen such a stubborn fight. Good sooth ! yon host
Is not of men ; 'tis ill to look on them ; •
They have the faces of wild beasts and divs,
And heed not right and wrong. Thou wouldst have
said : —
* They know not what it is to flee away
From scimitar and spear, from mace and sword.'
They all have dragon-faces and could pierce
A mountain with their spears, they all have claws
Like pards and hearts insatiate of war
And strife, ne'er take the saddle off their steeds,
And think a battle naught. Their chargers batten
On thorns, their riders sleep not but are watchful ;
They pass the nights in foray and attack,
And hazarding their persons in the flames.
They know not food or sleep. Would that the Div
Would challenge them to fight ! We cannot strive
Against the Khan, and we must seek fran.
If now Ghatkar will carry out our wishes
He will submit to Nushirwan, surrender
The Haitalians' land to him, and think no more
Of mace and sparth ; but if not we will choose
Some bold chief of the race of Khushnawaz,
Some man acceptable to Nushirwan,
One that can make our state renew its youth,
To tell the KMn's proceedings to the Shah.
The whole world praiseth Nushirwan, for he
Hath Grace, high bearing, destiny, and wisdom,
And wisdom is the cherisher of right.
NUSHIRWAN 333
He hath made Caesar tributary. None
Can strive with Xushinvan."
The Haitalians—
Men, women, children — were at one herein.
There was a high-born warrior of Chaghan, C. 1689
Aspiring, youthful, fortunate, and just—
A man of wisdom, Faghanish by name,
Possessing troops and treasures of his own :
The chiefs and warriors l called him to the throne.
§5
How Nushirwdn had Tidings of the Battle of the Khan inth
the Haitalians and how he led a Host against the Khan
Thereafter to the great king tidings came
About the Khan, who was a valiant chief,
The Haitalians and the warriors of that folk,
And how he had o'erthrown them in the fight ;
Moreover of the monarch of Chaghan,
Just seated by new fortune on the throne,
How he had taken that imperial seat,
And, while the brave and glorious warriors
Stood, one and all, before his throne, was ever
Engaged in consultation with his magnates.
The monarch of the world sat full of care
At these his wary emissaries' words,
Then in his palace had a hall prepared
For session, and the warrior-lieges came
With the high priest Ardshir, with Yazdagird,
The scribe, and with Shapur. These counsellors,
And sages, all held session at the throne
Of Nushfrwan, who said : "Ye archimages
Experienced and y< ministers of state !
I have discomfortable news — accounts
*
1 Reading with P.
334 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
At once unpleasant and injurious —
About the Haitalians and what the Khan
Of Chin and marchlords of Turan have done.
Troops gathered past all count from Chach, from Chin,
Khutan and Turkistan. They bore their helms
And vengeful scimitars for one whole week,
And never once unsaddled. In the end
The Haitalians were discomfited and most
Were slain or wounded. With renown like theirs —
A folk whose world is mace and partisan—
'Tis wonderful that they were worsted thus :
Defend me from a foolish general !
Had but Ghatkar had prudence and good sense
The sky itself had routed not his host.
The Haitalians, since their land is thus distraught,
Have sought a man descended from Bahrain Gur,
Have placed him on the throne as their new king,
And done obeisance to him, one and all.
The Khan is posted on this side of Chach
In all his pride with treasure, host, and crown ;
C. 1690 jje js descended from Afrasiyab
And from Arjasp, and dreameth of Iran.
His triumph o'er the army of Ghatkar
Exalteth him in head above the sun.
It is not well for us that we should be
At one in such a story with the Khan.
Kashan, the land wherefrom this folk of Chin
Derive their strength, pertaineth to our realm.
Our subjects are oppressed by them and yield
To them their persons, boundaries, and treasure ;
What are your views herein, and how shall we
Deal with the Turkmans and the Khan of Chin ? "
The prudent magnates rose and made reply,
First praised the Shah, and said : " 0 fortunate
And prescient Shah ! all the Haitalian march
Is very Ahriman, the folk thereof
NVSHIRWAN 335
Are double-faced and hostile to our coast.
They merit any ill that they may get,
Although the Shah is right to speak them fairly.
Had we no grievance, nothing to avenge
In their case save the blood of Shah Piruz,
That noble man whom suddenly they slew,
And such a king — the lustre of the world !
May they joy not one day, for right from wrong
Result eth never. Such is God's requital :
111 cometh on the heads of all ill-doers.
Now if the Shah referreth to the Khan
As one vindictive with an ancient grudge,
It may be that he hath ill counsellors —
Some tearful scions of Afrasiyab.
Success too may have heartened him : no marvel
If thou dost fear him. As for the Haitalians,
And for Ghatkar's host, neither think nor trouble
Concerning them, but let thy shrewd mind turn
To what the kindred of Afrasiyab
(1 of Arjasp, and what the Khan, who now
Is stablished on our bank, are doing. Thou art
The world's exalted king, both soul and wisdom
Derive their light from thee, and he is blest
Whom wisdom nourisheth. Thou art more wise
Than this great concourse and thou hast no need
Of sage or counsellor. The crown and throne
• in«- i IK e best of all the world, for thou
Hast Grace divine and might, thou fortunate !
!1 if the Shah shall go to Khur&san
II' \\ ill have cause to tremble for his realm.
Hosts ever and anon will conn- from Rum,
On seeing that our land is lel'i unkinged,
Exact revenge upon the Iranians,
And leave not to Iran or field or f< -II.
None yet hath set his foot upon our land,
Or meditated evil on this realm
336 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Yet if the Shah show fight the crocodiles
Will stir not in the streams for fear of him."
C. 1691 On hearing what they said of peace and war
That master of the world agnized full well
The feeling that those sages had at heart —
That none of them had any wish for war,
Preferring rather feasts and pleasuring —
And answered : " God be praised, whom I revere
In both worlds, that tan through quiet, sleep,
And feasting, hath forgotten how to fight !
Preferring peaceful times and banquet -hall
Ye have become indifferent to war ;
Yet ease should follow toil, the body's travail
Hath treasure for its fruit ; so in God's strength
Will we at this month's end prepare to march.
I will lead forth a host to Khurasan,
Will summon troops from all the provinces —
The men of name and warriors — and bind
The drums upon the lusty elephants.
I will not leave Haitalian or Khan
To call down blessings on Iranian soil,
But I will weed the world of all the wicked,
And by my largess and mine equity
Regenerate the realm."
The nobles marvelled,
Applauded him, excused themselves, and said : —
" Triumphant Shah, endowed with Grace and justice !
Oh ! may this age rejoice in thy commands.
We chiefs are all thy thralls and bow our heads
To thy behest and counsel. When the king
Shall bid us fight he will not find us wanting."
So when the Shah sat with his counsellors
The conclave held debate a while thereon.
Thus was it till the new moon rose and sat
On its new throne. They saw the moon withal
Upon the Shah's own face, and acclamations
NIISHIRWAN 337
Rose from his court . Whenas the shining Lamp
O'ertopped the mountains, and the earth resembled
A golden saddle-cover, thou hadst said : —
' They have set a topaz cup upon a robe
Of lapis-lazuli." A shout and blare
Of trump arose. They bound the kettledrums
Upon the elephants, the soldiers trooped
To camp, and with them went the tymbal-players.
Then Yazdagird, the scribe, came to the court
With counselling archmages and Ardshir.
They wrote a letter unto every province,
To every man of name and every chief :—
" The Shah hath marched forth with the host to war.
So out of loyalty forgo your feast ings."
The Shah bade send a letter to the Khan,
He offered greetings too to Faghanish,
And marched an army forth from Mada'in
That covered all the world except the sea ;
Earth was all troops from mountain unto mountain, c. 1692
And at their centre was the world-lord's flag.
The monarch led forth to Gurgan a host
That hid the sun. He rested for a space
< > < i mount and meadow to pursue the chase.
§6
How the Khan had Tidings of the Coming of the Host oj
Nushirwdn to Gurgan and wrote a Letter in the Cause of
Peace
The Shah took counsel with his troops what while
Ivhan abode at Sughd. whit h everywhere
Was like a sea with kin^m-u of Arjasp
And of Afrasiyab. The Khan said : " Earth
Will not support this host and tin one <>1 mine.
1 will lead hence the army to tan.
VOL. VII Y
338 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And onward to the cities of the brave,
Will bear the very dust away to Chin,
And set the heaven warring with the earth.
I will allow not any to possess
Crown, throne, or kingship, dignity or fortune."
Such was the language that he held awhile,
Ambit ioning the world with troops and fame,
Until the tidings came about the Shah,
How he had marched forth from Iran in state,
Of his victorious fortune and his might,
And how his army stretched from sea to sea.
The Khan was troubled when he heard the news
That stayed his purposed inroad, and he sat
In anxious conclave with his counsellors.
The great men of the army were assembled,
And he addressed his minister : " We cannot
Afford to blink these tidings. Nushirwan,
I hear, hath reached Gurgan and spread the realm
With troops. Good sooth, he hath not news of us,
Or hath a witless head. Mine army stretcheth
From Chin to the Jihun, the world is 'neath
The glory of my crown. I needs must go
And face him in the fight. Delay will shroud
The lustre of my name. Himself he deemeth
The limit and that none is king but he.
Now shall he learn of mine own warriorship,
For I will face him with the cavaliers
Of Chin."
A wise man thus addressed the Khan : —
" 0 monarch of the earth ! think not to fight
Against the Shah, and give not to the winds
Thy realm and host. None of the kings, unless
His heart and counsel lour, ambitioneth
c. 1693 The Shah's seat, for none hath his Grace and fortune
The moon in heaven hath not such a mien.
He claimeth tribute both from Hind and Rum,
NU SHIR WAN 339
Wherever there is wealth or peopled land.
He is the lord of crown, the ornament
Of throne, the conquering master of the world,
And fortunate."
The Khan took fitting order,
On hearing this, and asked his shrewd adviser : —
" What aspect hath this matter to the wise ?
Two points confront us which we may not shun,
And cannot readily pass o'er in silence :
If war with him is toil and nothing more
There is no better course than spending treasure.
Dinars can not be used to purchase raiment,
Or food or carpet ings when war is toward,
But can procure peace, provand, fair attire,
And carpet ings. Let all afraid of ill
Spurn drachms and be at ease."
Then from the host
.11'- chose ten fluent speakers apt for parle ;
A learned man of Chin too wrote a letter,
All compliments, decked like his idol-houses,
And to the king's court those ten prudent horsemen
Set forth with much to say. Now when men brought
The news to Nushfrwan he decked the palace
Of king of kings, then bade to raise the curtain,
And introduce the envoys joyfully.
The ten went in before the king, and took
With them the letter, offerings, and gifts.
The world-lord, when he saw, received them well,
Inquired about the Khan and made them sit.
They bent their heads before him to the ground,
And gave the message of the Khan of Chin.
e was a letter written in that tongue
On silk, and this the envoy laid before
The scribe. When Yazdagird began to read it
The company were fill«l \\ iih wonderment
Thereat. It first of all invoked the blessing
340 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Of God, the All- just, upon the king of earth,
Next manifested forth the eminence,
Wealth, army, arms, and greatness of the Khan,
And thirdly said : " Faghfur of Chin himself
Acclaimeth me, unasked bestowed upon me
His daughter, and his host is mine to bid.
'Tis for the presents that I sent the Shah,
Which the Haitalians stopped upon the way,
That I came forth from Chach to take revenge,
To take the crown and treasure from Ghatkar,
So came from the Gulzaryun that all
The waters of Jihun grew red with blood,
For when in Chin news reached us of the Shah,
I praised the teller of his victories,
C. 1694 His manliness, his wisdom, modesty,
And learning, and in secrecy desired
All friendship with the monarch of the world."
Now when the Shah discovered from the letter
The power, the might, and purpose of the Khan,
They made a lodging ready for the envoys,
Praised and made much of them. Whene'er the board
Was spread for feast and revelry the king
Invited them, and for a month they shared
With him the hall, the banquet, and the chase.
One day he held his court upon the plain,
The air was darkened with the horsemen's dust,
And all the marchlords with their golden girdles,
Men of Baluch and Gil with golden bucklers,
Attended in a body at that court,
Attended to do service to the Shah,
And brought three hundred steeds caparisoned
With gold, and scimitars with golden scabbards.
Swords, double-headed darts, and javelins glittered :
Thou wouldst have said : " Gold is compact with iron."
Upon one elephant, whose back was all
Housed in brocade, they set a turquoise throne,
NUSHIRWAN 341
Nile-blue, and bruit and stir filled earth and air,
Enough to deafen even the best of ears.
The ambassadors from Barda', Hind, and Rum,
From every sovereign and peopled realm,
And from the spear-armed horsemen of the desert,
Went in a body to the king who thus
Proved to the men of Chin : " Mine is the sway,
Mine from the sun down to the Fish's back." l
Air was all stir and dust of horsemen, earth
All armature of war. They made mock-battle
Upon the plain whereon there sallied forth
The warlike cavaliers and wheeled awhile
In pride with sparth and arrow, mace and bow.
The plain was full of spear and javelin-men,
And here were foot, there horse. The envoys, sent
From every clime by every chief and ruler,
Astonied at his host and equipage,
His countenance, his glory, and address,
Held talk with one another, saying thus
In whispers : " This is an exalted Shah !
He seeketh honour, showeth horsemanship,
Displayeth to the warriors of the host
His spear-point, and the skill that he hath shown us
We ought to lay to heart that on returning,
Each to our king, we may remember it,
And say : * None, young or old, hath seen one like
Shah Nushirwan.' ;
They told to the world's king
sayings of the ambassadors in private.
II bade his treasurer bring upon the field C. 1695
His battle-gear, had body-armour brought,
With helm and mail, and bade undo the buckles.*
No lusty warrior, though broad of breast,
Could lift the breastplate even from its place !
1 See Vol. i. p. 71,
* " lea boutons (qui joigoaient le casque a la cuirassc) " (Mohl).
342 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
The Shah alone had chest and neck to bear
The body-armour, mace, and morion.
There was no archer in the host like him,
And no such warrior among the nobles.
Like some fierce elephant he sought the field
With ox-head mace in hand and under him
A fiery steed ; his stature 'mazed the throng.
A shout rose and the blast of clarions,
While bells resounded from the elephants' backs,
And drummers with their cymbals led the way ;
Earth was in travail 'neath the horses' hoofs.
The king of kings, helmed on an armoured steed,
Wheeled to the left and right. The ambassadors
Applauded him and lout ed. to the ground.
The world-lord sought his palace from the plain,
And all the chieftains followed in his train.
§7
How Nushirwdn answered the Letter of the Khan
The Shah then bade a scribe come with Ardshir,
The high priest, and the scribe drew up on paper
A royal letter in the olden tongue.
He bathed his pen's two cheeks with ambergris,
And first gave praises to the Judge of all—
The Maker of the sky, height, depth, and love : —
" We all are thralls, He is the King of kings,
And wisdom beareth witness to His might.
No breath can pass, no emmet tread the ground,
Unless by His command. Him have I prayed
To further, if He will, my benison
Upon the Khan. Now, first, for what thou saidest
About the Haitalians : ' They have girt up,
As I have told to thee, their loins for ill ;
They have shed blood unjustly, wantonly,
NUSHIRWAN 343
And have been taken in their proper toils : '
The evil-doer, though of lion's strength,
Must not be bold with God. Though these men bare
Themselves like leopards thou hast conquered them.
Again, for what thou said'st about thy treasure,
Host, puissance of Faghfur, his throne and crown :
The sage is not at one with him that speaketh
Of his own greatness. Never hast thou seen c. 1696
The crown and throne of greatness, and the host
And march of Chach to thee are wonderful.
All greatness is a question of degree :
What star is higher than all other stars ?
Such is the language to be held with one
That seeth not treasure, army, march, or travail.
The mighty of the world have seen or heard,
If they have seen not, me, that I account not
The sea of Chin as water, and that mountains
Flee from my wrath. Earth is my treasury,
My care extendeth over sea and land.
Now, in the third place, thou wouldst be my friend,
And hast at heart to make with me a league.
Since thou art fain to feast I will not fight,
For no one e'er preferreth fight to feast,
And furthermore a wise man never seeketh
To fight against a man of high renown,
Still less with one compact of war, no laggard
Upon the day of battle, used to strife,
In battle-time requiring no instructor,
And one that in the fiercest of the mellay
Is as heart-calm as when enthroned and crowned.
May He that made the world be thine ally,
Thy crown and signet still continue bright .
They sealed this with the Sh&h's seal, gave new
lustre
To royal crown and throne, prepared a robe
Of honour, as the royal usage is,
344 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And bade the envoys come before the Shah,
Who gave them verbal messages withal
In further explication of the letter.
The envoys well content then left the palace,
Set forth with acclamations on their way,
And came with tongues all praise before the Khan,
That world-experienced one put all folk forth ;
His minister attended at his throne.
The Khan called in the envoys and inquired
At large of them concerning Nushirwan,
First of his sense, his knowledge, and his counsel,
His mien, his conversation, and his stature ;
And secondly : " How many troops hath he,
And who of them hath crown and signet-ring ? "
Inquired about his rule, if just or not,
About his realm, his treasure, host, and crown.
The spokesman of the envoys loosed his tongue,
And answered touching all that he had seen.
He told the Khan : " Account not Nushirwan,
O king ! as one inferior to thyself.
A hundred ages see but few like him
For leadership, for statesmanship, and favour.
At home, at feast, at war, and at the chase
We never looked on such a sovereign.
In height he is a cypress-tree, in strength
An elephant ; his hand is like the Nile
c. 1697 For bounty ; throned he is a trusty sky,
In battle-tide a baleful crocodile.
When he is wroth he roareth like a cloud ;
The mighty lion quaileth at his voice,
But gentle is it when he revelleth,
And his warm utterances ravish hearts.
In state and throne he is the blest Surush ;
He is a royal and fruit-bearing Tree.
The whole folk of Iran compose his host,
And are the adorers of his diadem.
NtSHIRWAN 345
What time he holdeth court upon the plain
The world itself containeth not his troops.
His mace-men all have golden belts and all
His ministers decore and Grace divine.
As for the steps up to his ivory seat,
His elephants, thrones, armlets, torques and crowns,
No one in all the world can estimate
His state except the almighty Judge of all.
Although his foeman were an iron mount
'T would be a needle's eye before his wrath.
Let him that is aweary of his life
Wax fierce and counter Xushinvan in strife ! "
§8
How the Khan bethought himself and wrote offering his
Daughter in Marriage to Nushirwdn
On hearing this the Khan turned wan and like
The flower of fenugreek, his heart grew full
Of terror at the words, his brain was rent
By his solicitude. He sat in dudgeon
With his advisers, and he thus addressed
That noble company : " Ye men of wisdom !
What is our rede herein ? Who can be more
Concerned and hurt than I by this mischance ?
He must not conquer in the fight or all
Our fame will turn to infamy."
The sages
Took cognisance of all the affair and spake,
Suggesting divers lines of policy.
Then said the Khan : " CKir policy is this—
To send a pledge of good faith to the Shah,
To take a deeper view and to arrange
That he shall be affined to me. I have
1'u II many a daughter in my ladies' bower —
All crowns upon the heads of noble dames —
346 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And I will wed one to the king of kings,
And thus cut short my cares in that regard.
If we make blood-relationship with him
None will advise him to our detriment.
On his side it will be a joy and honour,
While war with any other is a jest." l
The chiefs approved the counsel of the king,
And cried : " That is the course."
C. 1698 He chose three men
Of rank out of the host, men that could speak,
And grasp an answer. He unlocked his hoards
Of coin and said : " Why should we treasure jewels
Save to win fame, shun shame, or occupy
In largess, feasting, and expedient ? "
He had a gift made ready such as none,
Or great or small, e'er had beheld, and calling
A well experienced scribe declared his mind.
He first of all gave praises to the Maker,
All-wise, all-powerful, and all-sustaining,
The Lord of Saturn and of Sun and Moon,
The Lord of victory and mastery,
Who asketh from his slaves but righteousness,
And brooketh not that justice should be balked : —
" His blessing be upon the Iranian king,
The Lord of scimitar, of mace, and helm,
The Lord of understanding, crown, and throne,
And dowered by the God of victory
With fortune and content. The king of kings,
Of royal race, wise, weighty, learned, and just,
Is ware that men, albeit great and noble,
Fain would be dear in other men's regard.
Now when my sage ambassadors, the men
That are both mine associates and allies,
Had come back from thy court to mine and told me
At large about the Shah — his justice, wisdom,
1 Beading with P.
NUSHIRWAN 347
Good fortune, crown, pre-eminence, and throne —
His Grace divine caused to arise in me
A great desire to shadow 'neath his wings.
Now naught is dearer than our own heart's blood,
And prudent children and our hearts are one ;
So let him, if he will, demand of me
One of my stainless daughters — her that is
Most gentle, fair, discreet — and she in sooth
Shall profit him, the marches of Iran
And Chin shall meet, our worship be the more."
This was all written out on silk of Chin,
And carried with the seal to the wazir.
The Khan selected from among his kin
Three men of noble rank and eloquence,
And they departed from the exalted court
Iran -ward to the exalted Shah who, when
He heard thereof, prepared his crown and sat
Upon his royal throne of ivory.
So those three men of prudence and high rank
Arrived before the exalted throne. They brought
Three turbans, of dinars some thirty thousand,
And laid them as a gift before the Shah.
The gifts of gold and silver, the brocade
Of Chin, made earth more brilliant than the sky.
Now \\ IK 11 the envoys duly had been seated
They called down blessings in their native tongue,
And then the Shah's chief minister prepared c. 1699
Fn lodging for them. Heaven revolved one night,
And \vlicn the bright sun rose above the mountains
The Shah sat down upon the turquoise throne,
And set a crown of jewels on his head.
He ordered that the archmages and the chiefs
Should sit in conclave with the famous sages,
And said thus : " Bring and lay before the scribe
The letter writ on silk."
The nobles all
348 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Sat round while Yazdagird drew near the Shah,
And read the letter which amazed the throng,
Such good will, fair excuse, and compliment
Were patent in the utterance of the Khan.
All those illustrious and prudent chiefs
Began to praise the king : " Thanks be to God,
With whom our refuge is, that He hath set
Upon the state a Shah endowed with Grace,
With victory, and majesty, a Shah
Good, kind, and prudent, one that is in fight
A mighty, raging elephant, in feast
A gallant host. All foes are underlings
Of thine, if they be worthy of that title.
We all were fearful of this power from Chach,
And of the Khan, who hath both crown and treasure,
By the imperial Grace is now our friend,
And seeketh with the Shah affinity.
One that is wise among the warrior-chiefs
Will tender peace and justice. Since the Khan
Is ware that he can not withstand the Sahh
He seeketh for affinity to him.
There should be no delay in this affair,
For such affinity disgraceth none.
His troops extend from Chin up to Bukhard,
And all the chiefs are under his protection."
Now when the Shah heard what those sages said —
Those magnates and archmages shrewd of heart —
They cleared the hall of strangers and then brought
The ambassadors in haste before the Shah.
The king of kings received them graciously,
And set them near the throne. Those chosen men
Of Chach beheld the chief in all his pomp
Of troops, wealth, crown, and gave their master's
message,
Protesting that their words were true. The Shah,
When he had heard the fervent words thus uttered
NTJSHIRWAN 349
In gentle accents by the chiefs of Chin,
Replied : " The Khan is great, wise, worshipful.,
Desireth kinship with us through his child,
And illustrateth thus his own good will.
The man whom understanding maketh wise
Will look upon affairs with wisdom's eye ;
We will take order, will advise us well, C. 1700
And make response to all that he hath said
On this condition — that the Khan of Chin
Shall give our heart the liberty of choice.
I will dispatch a wise man who shall look
On all his women-folk and shall select
The most illustrious and dear to him,
See what her own maternal grandsire was,
And her own quality of royal birth.
When what we name shall have been done the Khan
Will have performed his portion of the pact."
The envoys called down praises, saying thus : —
" The Khan of Chin rejoiceth in the Shah,
And were his ladies' bower a cloud of jewels
He would withhold it not from Nushirwan.
Select among the sages one to go
Before the Khan whose ladies shall not fail
In that one's sight their faces to unveil."
§9
How Nushirwdn answered the Letter, and sent Mihrdn
Siidd to see and fetch the Daughter, of the Khan
The king of kings heard what they said ; the age,
Outworn, revived for him. He called a scribe.
Spake of the Khan at large, and bade indiit
An answer couched in choice and gracious terms.
350 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
He first gave praises to almighty God,
" The World -lord, Conqueror, and Nourisher.
The world is 'stablished by His ordinance ;
He is our Guide to good. He giveth worth
To whom He will and from abasement raiseth
Such to high heaven, the while another man
Is left in luckless case because unfavoured
By Him to Whom I own that thanks are due
For every blessing, and of Whom my heart
Is fearful when I do amiss. I would
That life should cease within my heart if I
E'er should desist from hope and fear in Him.
The worshipful ambassador hath come,
And brought a gracious message from the Khan.
Heard have I what was said about a league,
And of the virtuous daughters of his house :
My heart would joy to be allied to him,
And in especial through his own chaste child.
Lo ! I have sent to thee a prudent man,
A man whose mind esteemeth wisdom dear.
On coming he will tell thee all my views
As touching this alliance first and last.
C. 1701 Mayst thou for ever have a reverent mind,
Be happy-hearted and our warm friend still."
The writer, when the pen was out of work,
Embellished all the paper, rolled it up,
And, when the last tears of the pen were dry,
Affixed a seal of musk. The Shah bestowed
A robe of honour on the ambassadors,
Such as amazed the company, and chose
A wise old chief, by name Mihran Sitad,
And five score famed Iranian cavaliers,
All men renowned, discreet, and eloquent,
And said thus to Mihran Sitad : "Go forth
Glad and triumphant, and with love and justice.
Be thine the fluent tongue of chiefs, be wisdom
NtiSHIRWAN 351
Thy guide, thy heart all lovingkindliness.
Scan well the women's quarters of the Khan,
And throughly search out all their good and ill.
They must not fool thee with a mere display
Of countenance, of grace, and ornament.
The Khan hath many daughters stately, tall,
And crowned, behind his curtains, and of these
The offspring of his slaves are not for me,
Although they have a king to father them ;
Look thou for one that is both meek and good,
Whose mother is descended from the Khans.
If she hath gifts according to her birth
She will rejoice the world and live in joy."
Mihran Sit ad, when he had heard, invoked
.Much blessing on the crown and throne, and left
The portal of the world-illuming Shah
At a propitious season on the day
Khurdad. News of his coming reached the Khan,
Who sent out troops to welcome him, and when
He reached the presence of the Khan he kissed
The ground and proffered praise. On seeing him
That world-aspiring king received him well,
Assigning him an honourable room,
But, being much concerned at the affair,
Withdrew to the apartments of the queen,
Declared to her the words of Nushirwan,
Spake of his treasures and his host, and " This
Shah Nushfrwan," he told her, " is still young,
And wary, and his fortune is young also.
Fain am I to bestow on him a daughter
To magnify our worship in his sight.
One such I have, concealed behind the veil —
A Crown upon the head of lady-hood,
fairest of the fair througli"ut the world,
And many a chief hath sought her at my hands.
I love her so that never would I cease
352 THE SHAHUAMA OF FIRDAUSI
To gaze upon her face. I have four others—
The offspring of my slaves, themselves both slaves
And handmaids, clever girls — and one of them
Will I bestow on him, and rest from warfare,
And from dispute/'
C. 1702 The queen replied to him :—
" None in the world will oust thee, thou'rt so wise ! "
In such discourse they passed the night away
Until the sun ascended o'er the mountains,
And then Mihran Sit ad arrived, drew near
The throne, and gave the letter. When the Khan
Had read he smiled upon the union
And goodly choice proposed, gave up the key
That oped his ladies' bower, and said : "Go look
On what is hidden there."
Four trusty slaves
Came to accompany Mihran Sit ad,
Who, when he heard the Khan, went with the key
And them withal. He oped the doors. They entered,
The slaves protesting to him : " Never star
And sun and moon have seen the sight that thou
Art on thy way to see ! "
The, ladies' bower
Was Paradise adorned — all Suns and Moons
And goodly havings — while upon the throne
Five fay -faced maidens sat crowned and arrayed
In treasures, save the daughter of the queen,
Who wore no crown or bracelet, torque or jewel,
But only had on her a well-worn robe,
And for a crown her musky locks divine.
Her cheeks were made not up : she only wore
What God had given her — a Cypress she,
Surmounted by a new moon that diffused
A lustre o'er the new throne where she sat.
Now when Mihran Sit ad came and beheld
He saw none like to her, and, being shrewd
NUSHIRWAN 353
Of heart and counsel, knew that king and queen
Were fooling him. The damsel used her hands
As kerchief for her eyes. Mihran Sitad
Grew wroth anew and told the slaves : " The Shah
Hath many a bracelet, crown, and throne, and I
Choose her that lacketh crown and ornament,
For t IK-SI • will make her still more beautiful.
I came to show discretion in my choice ;
I came not to procure brocade of Chin."
The queen replied : " Old man ! thou speakest not
One gracious word and art not well advised
If thou preferrest such a child as this
To these princesses who are gracious, fair,
And wise, have reached a marriageable age,
And kindle hearts — girls tall as cypress-trees,
With cheeks like spring and very well aware
Of all the worship that is due to kings."
Mihran Sitad said : " If the Khan shall act
Unfairly in this matter let him know
That Nushirwan, the monarch of the world,
Will term me an old knave. The one that sitteth,
All unadorned by bracelet, torque, and crown,
Upon the ivory throne best pleaseth me ;
Hut . it' your Highnesses will not consent, c
With your permission I will go my ways."
The queen observed his words. His policy
And conduct made her muse. The crafty envoy
Tln-11 1< tt II»T. \\ ni back to the Khan, and told
All that had passed. The Khan saw him perturbed,
And knew : " This shrewd old man is great and apt
For delicate affa
The prudent king
Sat with his counsellors, put forth the throng,
And, when the place for conclave had been cleared.
The readers of the stars who bore in hand
Th' ir Roman astrolabes, the mighty men,
VOL. Ml. 7
354 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And all the chiefs, attended. Then the Khan
Commanded every loyal liege to mark
The aspect of the sky. The sages scanned
The stars to find out how the Khan should act,
And as to his alliance with the Shah,
And at the last said thus : " Let not, 0 king !
Thy heart be vexed by evil any whit,
Because this matter can but end in good,
And time will count thy foemen's counsels ill.
This is the purpose of high heaven herein—
The horoscope and prosperous event —
That from the daughter of the Khan and from
The Shah's loins a throne-gracing prince will come ;
The country of Iran,1 the men of name
And worth in Chin, his praises shall proclaim."
§ 10
How the Khan sent his Daughter, escorted by Mihrdn,
with a Letter and Treasures to Nushirwdn
The Khan, on hearing this, was glad of heart,
Smiled too the sunlike queen. When they had purged
Their hearts of artifice they set the envoy
Before them and told all that he should know
About the queen's child kept secluded thus,
Whom from her sire Mihran Sitad received
On the victorious king of kings' behalf.
The deputy received, the Khan bestowed,
The only daughter that the queen had borne.
The handmaids came with gifts, came joyfully
Before the king, and afterwards a treasure,
Comprising goods of all sorts, was prepared-
Dinars, gems, torques, and crowns, a turquoise litter,
1 Beading with P.
NUSHIRWAN 355
An ivory throne, and one of aloe-wood
From Hind, with gold and divers jewelry
Inlaid, and with each throne a royal crown ; c- !7°4
A hundred horses and a hundred camels,
The horses saddled and the camels bearing
Brocade of Chin, and forty tapestries
Of cloth of gold enriched with emeralds.
Of carpets too he laid a hundred loads
On camels, and brought forth three hundred handmaids,
And saw that all were mounted for the journey,
Each with a flag in hand — the use in Chin.
The Khan, victorious of fortune, bade
To set up on an elephant a throne
Embossed with gold and silver all incrusted
With gems unworn, and rear a flaunting flag
That made the ground all viewless with brocade.
It took a hundred men to carry forth,
And raise, that standard skyward from the plain.
A litter tricked out with brocade and gold
Contained the maiden Gem. Three hundred hand-
maids,
All blithe of heart and bright of countenance,
Accompanii d that moon-faced one. He sent
His daughter to the Shah with troops for escort,
And forty eunuchs to precede the slaves,
And march before her with rejoicing hearts.
The preparations over, came the scribe,
And brought with him rose-water, musk, and silk.
The Khan then wrote a letter like the Artang,1
All illustration, colour, scent, and beauty,
And first of all gave praises to the Maker,
Lord of the world, all-watchful and all-seeing : —
H t'; Chinned all things by divine decree
To guide His servants to predestined ends.
» Arzhang. another form of the same word, in the original. For
Artang, see Vol. ii. p. 10 and note.
356 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
My crown is the Iranian king of kings.
Not for my daughter's sake have I desired
A league with him, but hearing from the wise,
The great men and the wary -hearted priests,
About his Grace, his majesty, and throne,
I sought for intercourse and league with him
Because so just a ruler girdeth not
His loins in all the world, or one so great
In manhood, victory, and mastery,
In Grace, mien, throne, and crown, while holy God
Sustaineth him with justice and with knowledge,
With Faith and wisdom. Lo ! we have dispatched,
According to our rites, our very Eye
To Nushirwan the Shah, commanding her
To serve him as his slave when she shall pass
Behind his curtains. From his Grace and insight
She will learn wisdom and acquire his ways
And usages. May wit and fortune guide thee,
Be majesty and knowledge thy supports."
They set the seal upon that musk of Chin,
And gave the letter to the ambassador
C. 1705 With compliments. The Khan prepared for him
A robe of honour past all precedent
As given by the great ones of the world
In public or in private to an envoy.
The Khan gave presents also to the suite,
And made them happy with dinars and musk.
He travelled with his daughter and the goods,
The beasts and elephants caparisoned,
Until he reached the bank of the Jihun,
And poured his heart's blood from his eyes the
while ;
He thence betook him homeward with full heart
And, in his daughter's stead, had pain for comrade ;
Howbeit he delayed till they had crossed,
And reached dry land upon the further side.
NUSHIRWAN 357
When tidings came about Mihran Sitad *
The folk presented gifts and offerings,
And all with one consent called blessings down
Upon the Shah and on the chief of Chin.
With hearts rejoiced with largess and with gifts,
And all disposed for hospitality
And amity, the folk decked road and city,
And >hmvered drachms upon the royal bride.
Toward Amwi and Marv's unwatered ways
All earth was like a pheasant's plumes, and thou
Hadst said of all the journey to Bast am,
And to Gurgan : " The earth saw not the sky
For decorations and triumphal arches
In waste and town wherethrough the progress lay."
Mi-n. women, children, from the palaces,
Met where that Idol brought from Chin would pass,
Showered on her escort drachms from overhead,
And sifted o'er them musk and ambergris.
The scents were mixed on salvers, and the world
Was full of din from trump and kettledrum.
The horses' manes were drenched with musk and
wine,
And sweets and drachms were scattered under-foot,
While through the din of rebeck, harp, and pipe,
There was no room on earth for rest and sleep.
Now win -n the Idol reached the royal bower,
\u-hir\\an had looked within the litter,
He saw a Cypress with the orbed moon
Above it and upon the moon a crown
Of ambergris. There was another too
Of musky coils joined chain-wise, link on link,
The links cut rainmelled. plaited daintily,
And curiously entwined like civet ring-work
Upon a rose's petal, while beneath
ring-work shone the planet Jupiter.
1 Reading with P.
358 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Shah Nushirwan was all astound thereat,
And o'er her oft invoked the name of God,
Assigned her a fit dwelling for her own,
And they made ready for that Moon a throne.
S 1 1
How the Khan withdrew, and how Nushirwan marched
from Gurgdn to Taisafun
C. 1706 When of Iran and of the Iranian king
News reached the Khan of Chin, and of the joy
Wherewith his child had been received, and how
The alliance caused good cheer and happiness,
He gave up Sughd and Samarkand and Chach,
And sent his crown on to Kachar Bashi.
Now when the hosts of Chin had left these states
The Shah sent marchlords thither. He renewed
The world by equity, and old and young
Could sleep upon their backs. All everywhere
Called blessings down on him with hands upraised
To heaven : "0 Ruler over space and time !
Keep in Shah Nushirwan this justice still,
And turn the ills of fortune from his life,
For by his Grace divine and majesty
Both public ills and private have been banned.
What time he reached Gurgan to hunt none saw
The Khan's face smile ; the cavaliers of Chin
Forwent their food and sleep, and none off -saddled ;
Three hundred thousand Turkman troops dispersed
Instead of striving and of combating ;
There is no need to string the bow, for none
Of Chin, or small or great, remaineth here,
Such were the Grace divine and royal mien
Wherewith the savage Lion sought the chase ;
NtfSHIRWAN 359
Such were his reputation and his star
That fortune was the comrade of his thronr."
Then from the regions lying 'twixt Amwi.
Chach, and Khutan, the nobles met and said : —
' These spacious regions full of pleasances,
Of riding-grounds, of palaces, and halls,
From Chach and the Tarak to Samarkand
And Sughd * are wholly waste — the home of owls.
They of Chaghan, Shiknun. Khatlan, and Balkh,
Have all experienced dark and bitter days.
Great are our pain and sorrow when we name
Bukhara and Kharazm, Amwi and Zam.
Once none gat rest and sleep, so tyrannous
And cruel was Afrasiyab ! Howbeit
We found deliverance when Kai Khusrau
Came, and the world had peace from bickering.
Then when Arjasp gained lustihead these marches
Were filled with anguish and calamity,
But when Gushtasp marched from Iran to battle
Arjasp perceived no tarrying-place, and then
The world had quiet from his enterprises. C. 1707
May heaven ne'er befriend him ! Afterwards,
What time Narsi became the chief, these coasts
Were full of misery, but when Shapur,
Son of Urmuzd, usurped, and when Narsi
Discerned not hand from foot, the world found justice,
And quiet, and the hand of Ahriman
Was stayed from evil. \Vhrn the Khan bore off
Tin- world from Yazdagird, and had acquired
Dexterity in ill. tin-re came the world -lord,
Bahram GUT, to afflict and trouble him,
To make the states like Paradise with justice,
And scatter the unseemly and the foul.
So Khushnawaz, what time Pfruz was Shah,
Filled all the world with bloodshed, heat, and anguish,
1 iU-ading with P.
360 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And perish Faghanish that son of his
With all his unjust kith and kin ! And now
The world-lord Nushirwan hath occupied
Our marches and hath made us rich indeed !
For ever may his policy endure,
And may the whole world be at one with him.
Now that the earth beholdoth justice we
Will contemplate no travail, shed no blood." *
Then from the Haitalians, Turkmans, and Khutan
The people met by the Gulzaryun
From every quarter where some shrewd priest lived,
Or other potentate good, learned, and wise,
While all the Turkmans that were well advised
Drew to the Shah — a mighty company.
It was the policy of all these troops
To come before the Shah with offerings,
And when they came before him, when they came,
All with one heart and tongue, the monarch's court
Was so fulfilled with people that they barred
The way to ant and gnat ! All louted low,
Called praises down upon the Shah, and said :—
" O Shah ! we are thy slaves and live to do
Thy bidding in the world. We all of us
Are nobles dight for war and rend the hides
Of leopards on the field."
The king of kings
Received their gifts, and then they left the presence,
Their leader Faghanish. Behind him came
A troop of youthful warriors. When thus
They had found favour in the monarch's sight
The chamberlain went to the palace-gate
With formal greetings and with compliments,
And lodged them through the city. Afterwards
The king of kings, that worshipper of God,
1 The historical reminiscences put into the mouths of dwellers beyond
the Oxus and even the Jaxartes are of course valueless.
NUSHIRWAN 361
Passed from the audience-chamber to the dust,
And offered up thanksgivings to the Almighty : —
" 0 Thou above vicissitudes of fortune !
Thou gav'st me Grace, accomplishment, and counsel,
And art my Guide in all things good and ill.
For all that hear of me seek not thereafi C. 1708
The crown of majesty, but all submit
To be my lieges. None hath pluck to fight.
Birds on the mountains, fishes in tin- water,
Remain awake to watch what time I slumber :
All the wild creatures are my sentinels,
The mighty of the world mine underlings ;
No abject he whom Thou dost choose who art
The world's sole Lord and giv'st me strength therein
That not an ant may sleep aggrieved by me."
'Twas thus he spake with many tears to God :
Canst find within the world a king like him ?
Then from his place of prayer he sought his throne,,
And they prepared to quit Gurgan. The blast
Of trumpets and the din of brazen cymbals
Ascended from the court. He called to hor-
And loaded up, invoking the All-giver.
•ok dinars, brocade, crowns, belts, and treasures
Of drachms and gems, steeds, female slaves, and
crowns,
The turquoise litter and the ivory throne.
The heart -alluring handmaids and the thralls
Of all descriptions mounted on the saddle.
The Shah dispatched them all to Taisafun,
Preceded by the \\<>m« n-folk of Chin,
\Vln» f.-ind auspiciously and illy
in:d»d by the eunuchs. As high JH
Mihran Sit ad accompanied the queen,
The daughter of the Khan, and thus the
And baggage went toward Taisafun. A band
Composed of warriors only — all the best
362 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And noblest of the mighty men — approached
Afoot Azar Abadagan while troops
Came from each province, soldiers from Gilan
And Dflaman,1 the mountains of Baluch,
And deserts of Saruch, and warriors
From Luch, all came with gifts and offerings
Before the tent -enclosure of the king,
Whereat the famous chiefs rejoiced and thought : —
" The wolf's claws grow too short to reach the sheep !
World without end strife with Baluch had raged,
And filled the cities with distress and anguish,
But by the Grace of Nushirwan the sky
Had changed its use and favour.2 Wheresoever
The host was wont to pass it did not use
To harm a crop, to ask for bread and water,
But made its sleeping-quarters on its route.
The Shah on this wise went about the world,
Surveying every place, both field and waste.
He saw that all the world was full of crops,
While sheep and oxen filled the hills and plains.
Ci 1709 A region ne'er before inhabited,
Where none had looked on sowing and on reaping,
He now surveyed and found it bearing fruit,
Found too a family in every house.
The trees were laden through the Grace divine
Of that victorious master of the world.
At one stage of the progress of the Shah
The ambassador of Caesar came with presents,
With silver and withal a throne of gold,
And Human jewels and brocade — a gift
That covered all the surface of the ground :
So great a tribute ne'er had come from Rum.
Ten ox-hides had been filled up with dinars —
The tribute and the taxes of three years —
And with the presents Caesar had dispatched
1 =Dilam. 2 See p. 241 seq.
NU SHIR WAN 363
A letter to the famous king. They set
The envoy in the presence, and the Shah
Was all attention while they read the letter.
Tuas full of warm expressions of good will
About the gifts that had been sent to him : —
Ih it altt r will I send thee greater gifts,
For these are merely meant for largessing."
Tin* Shah received them, mounted on his steed,
And sought the temple of Azargashasp.
When, still afar, he saw the place of worship
His cheeks were hidden by his tears. He lighted
Down from his steed and, sacred twigs l in hand,
Made prayer with bated bivath ; 2 then drawing near
The Fire he worshipped and adored the Maker.
He gave the temple-bursar all the gold,
And all the many gems that he had brought ,
And showered gold and silver on the archmages,
Bestowing on them likewise gems and raiment.
AJ1 were enriched by him and sought the Fire
To offer up their thanks in muttered tones,3
And blessed withal the righteous judge of earth.
He parted thence for Taisafun ; the host
Made earth a Mount Bistun. That righteous Shah,
On reaching am ^ed to give
Much gold and silver to the mendicants.
Through all the wealth that he disposed of thus
The realm was stuffed with treasure and with drachms.
From Taisafun he drew toward Mad a in,
F<>r there he wont to keep his treasuries' key.
He took the Rose of Chin 4 and forty more
Withal. Mihran Sitad fared on bef<
1 See Vol. i. p. 80, e.v. Barsam.
* Id., g.v. Bdj. » Id. « I. Kose.gaiden
364 THE SHAH NAM A OF F1RDAUSI
§ 12
Discourse on the Justice of Nushirwdn and how
Mortals had Peace under his Usages
When Nushirwan ascended to his throne
In pomp, with his good fortune for his mate,
The world was decked like Paradise with justice,
c. 1710 With goodliness, and wealth, had rest from strife,
Inequity, and bloodshed, everywhere,
And was renewed by Grace divine. " They have,"
Thou wouldst have said, " bound both the hands of
evil."
None knew of pillage, raid, or putting forth
The hand to ill ; all came at his behest
From darkness and perverseness to the way.
If any dropped a drachm upon the road
A thief would shun that wealth ! As for brocade
And for dinars, on land and sea, by daylight,
And in the hours for sleep, the ill-disposed
Would look not to that quarter out of fear,
And through the justice of the Shah, the world-lord.
The world was pargetted like Paradise,
And dale and desert were fulfilled with wealth.
Dispatches went to all the provinces,
To every man of name and potentate,
While from the Turkman merchants and from Chin,
Saklab and every province, came such store
Of musk-bags and of silk of Chin, of trinkets
Of Rum and of the land of Hind, as made
Iran like jocund Paradise ; its dust
Was ambergris, its bricks were gold. The world
Turned toward Iran and rested from distress
And bickering. " The breezes shed rose-water,"
Thou wouldst have said, and men had peace from pain
And leech. The moisture showered upon the rose
NUSHIRWAN 365
In season, and the farmer was not sad
Through lack of rain. The world grew full of herbage
And cattle, plains and valleys were all flowers,
Rooftrees, and dwellings, all the streams seemed seas,
And roses Pleiad-like within the gardens.
Men learned to speak new tongues within fran,
Illumed their souls with knowledge, and returned
Thanksgiving to their guide, the Shah, for all
The traffickers that came from every march
And land, from Turkistan, Chin, Hind, and Rum,
While cattle multiplied amid the herbage.
All learned men and ready speakers found
A place at court. The great, the men of lore,
And archimages were esteemed, the wicked
Shook fearful of calamity. What time
The sun adorned the world a proclamation
W« -nld go up from the court : " All ye that are
The servants of the monarch of the world !
lv . p not ill hidden, any one of you !
Whoe'er hath toiled at any task shall have
A treasure in proportion to his travail.
Prefer your claims before our chamberlain
That he may seek your recompense from us.
If any creditor shall come and ask
For payment from the poor, my treasurer
Will pay the debt because the destitute
Must not be troubled. Whosoe 'er shall look C. 1711
n another's wife, and his accuser
Appeal to us, the oiT« i <!« i shall see naught
But pit and gibbet, bondage in the pit,
And arrows on the gibbet. If men find
A horse at large, and any husbandman
Complain thereof at court, let it be slain
on that tilth, and he shall have the carcass
Who had the scath, the horseman shall be horseless,
And fare afoot before Azargashasp
366 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
To tender his excuse, the muster-master
Shall strike his name off from the muster-roll,
They shall lay low his dwelling, and the offender,
Whatever his rank may be, shall be degraded.
The Shah can not be of one mind with such,
Will have the righteous only at his court,
And at our court God grant there never be
Those that approve not of our policy."
§ 13
How Buzurjmihr counselled Nushirwdn and discoursed
on good Deeds and Words
One day the world-lord, as he sat rejoicing,
Gave audience to the mighty men of wisdom.
He spake with smiles and open countenance,
And seated Buzurjmihr upon the throne,
Who offered to the king such praise as made
His heart like jocund spring, and thus he said : —
" 0 righteous judge so fresh of visage ! may
Fault-finders never find a fault in thee.
Blest king of kings, whose fortune prospereth,
The wise, triumphant master of the world !
I erst recorded in the olden tongue
Some thoughts upon a roll of royal paper,
Which I entrusted to thy treasurer
Till there might come a season when the Shah
Would read it, but I see the mystery
Is one that laggard heaven will disclose not.
What though a man shall quit his seat at feasts,
And take his life within his hands in fight,
Shall sweep the earth of enemies and be
Secure against the toils of Ahrimans,
Shall be the great king over all the world,
And consummate his wishes one by one,
NtiSHIRWAN 367
Shall win the wide world by his bravery,
Make rosary and pleasance, park and palace,
Shall lay up wealth, have sons surrounding him,
And reckon many days of happiness,
Shall bring together warriors and wealth,
Shall decorate his palaces and halls,
And, while the poor are toiling for his sake,
Amass on all sides treasure and renown,
Still willy n illy he but gathereth dust ; C. 1712
His lifetime will not last a century.
II will be dust, his toils will bear no fruit
For him, and all his wealth will be his foe's.
No children, throne or crown or royal hall,
Or treasury or army will be his,
And when he ceaseth to pursue the wind
None in the world will give a thought to him.
Of all his doings when his time is over
A good name will be his memorial.
In this world there are two things that endure,
And only two, the rest will last with none —
Choice sayings and good doings : these will last
Until the world shall end, auspicious Shah !
Time's course is such that fame and honest speech
Spoil not through sun and water, wind and dust.
The modest man and virtuous is blest.
Avoid, O king ! \\ ith all thy might the faults
That shame the soul. Harm not but help ; thus Faith
And precedent prescribe. I leave behind me
Words that, I ween, ne'er will grow obsolete."
lie njx-d the kind's shrewd heart who questioned him
On many points : " Who is the glorious man,
Whose heart is glad, who sigheth not ? "
He answered : —
" The innocent, the man whom Ahriman
Hath caused not to transgress."
The Shah then asked him
368 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Concerning guile, the Div's way, and the way
Of God, the world's Lord. Buzurjmihr replied : —
" To do God's will is best, for in both worlds
The Grace is His. The door of evil leadeth
To Ahriman who is the enemy
Of those that worship God. The high-souled man
Is blessed in the world, for his adornments
Are holiness and modesty. Since knowledge
Safe-guardeth him his life is one of ease,
He hath nobility and righteousness,
And knocketh not upon the door of guile,
And loss. When he is dead his soul will be
A foe to what pertaineth to the body.
He is not negligent about them both,
But is concerned for either sword or scabbard." *
C. 1713 Then Nushirwan inquired : " Among the chiefs
What man attaineth to the highest standard ? "
Said Buzurjmihr : " The man that hath most know-
ledge,
And most controlment over his desires."
" Who is the man of knowledge," said the Shah,
" For knowledge is a matter hid in men ? "
" The man that neither severeth heart from God,"
He answered, " at the bidding of the Div,
Nor out of wantonness obeyeth one
That is the foe of souls and wisdom's snare.
Ten Ahrimans there are with lion's might,
Who lord it over wisdom and the soul."
" What then are these ten divs," said Nushirwan,
" Since wisdom hath good reason to bewail them ? "
He thus made answer, saying : " Greed and Need
Are two o'erweening divs and puissant.2
The rest are Anger, Envy, Strife, Revenge,
Backbiting, Treachery, and Faith Impure.
The tenth div is Ingratitude to men
1 Five couplets omitted. 2 Cf. Vol. vi. p. 146.
NUSHIRWAN 369
For benefits and Ignorance of God."
The Shah said : "Of these ten divs, ruinous
And black, which Ahriman is lustiest ? "
He answered Xushirwan thus, saying : " Gi
Is a tyrannic div. the last to go.
Him never wilt thou see content in aught,
But ever labouring for something more.
All those that look on Need behold him blind,
And sallow with anxiu y and pain.
The div of Envy is the next, O king !
And is an ailment that no leech can cure.
His soul is pained to see one prosperous.
Strife is another div and passionate,
For ever quick to put his hand to ill ;
Revenge, another, wrathful, turbulent,
And instant to arouse the battle-cry
In men, unloving and ungenerous —
A div malignant and with fro wning face ;
Another, Slander, knowing naught but lie>.
And doing all his traffic in the dark ;
Another, Treachery, with double face,
Who feareth not the Master of the world,
But flingeth strife and vengeance 'twixt two me
And toileth to break up alliances :
The last, Ingratitude and Ignorance —
A witless div unconscious of all good,
Contemptuous of rede and modesty,
And in \\h«,se sight both good and ill are 01
The king then asked the sage: "How doth the
Div
Make war against t he heart, and what hath God
Bestowed upon His servants so that th< y
May counteract the Div ? "
That man of Faith
Replied : " Wise, glorious Shah ! against the sword
Of divs the coat of mail is wisdom ; t h at
VOL. \ 1 1 2 A
370 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
Illumineth the sage's heart and mind,
*7i4 Recordeth what is passed and nourisheth
The soul with knowledge. Oh ! may wisdom be
The guider of thy mind because the way
Is long before thee, and if wisdom prove
A second nature, as the saying is,
So that the heart is fearless of the Div,
The good heart will find pleasure in the world,
And not frequent the portal of desire.
Now will I utter words of hope to guide
The heart to joy : the sage is always hopeful,
And seeth naught but happiness from time,
Not for a moment meditateth ill,
And chooseth not the bow's path but the arrow's.
Moreover one contented doth not stretch
His hand to treasure or fatigue himself ;
He that despiseth drachm and treasury
Will fleet his sum of days in happiness.
Moreover one that is devote to God 1
In all will turn not from His ordinance
For toil or treasure or the fear of man ;
He hath no strain of evil in his nature,
And by that token he is virtuous too
Because he will sell not God's way for aught."
Said Nushirwan : " Which is the royal way
Conducting us to good ? "
He answered thus : —
" The way of wisdom doubtlessly, surpasseth
All knowledge. Likewise being well disposed
Will keep a man in honour all his days ;
While of the qualities the mightiest
Is in my view contentment with one's lot ;
The most agreeable, which refresheth most
In travail, and the seemliest, is hope.
In greed I see the weariest of all,
1 Reading with P.
NUSHIRWAN 371
For that is never satiate of wealth."
The Shah said : " Which accomplishment is best,
The one whereby aspirants win to greatness ? "
H- • ana* :•••(! : " Knowledge, for the sage is greatest
Among the great as clutching not at treasure,
And holding of himself aloof from travail."
Shah then asked him : " How shall we proceed
To overcome the might of enemies ? "
" Ill-doing is the enemy," he answered,
" Alike of wisdom and the soul serene."
The righteous judge then ask. d the sage and said :—
" Is talent or is application better ? "
The sage made answer, saying : " Application
Is more than natural ability.
For application furnisheth the mind,
While talent only maketh talking easy,
1, when untrained, is wretched, vile, and weak,
But application strengthened the soul."
" How can the mind be polished," said the Shah,
And what accomplishments commend the body ? "
\ A . ' said he. " will I make a full reply, C. 1715
If thou wilt take it from me point by point :
isdom is itself God's robe of honour
\« » thought can gain it and no evil touch it ;
So one accomplished but withal conceited
Should have no credit for accomplishments,
While no wise man regardeth with disdain
The merest peasant well-disposed by nature,
And though a sage join bounty to high birth,
•loin knowledge, conduct, equity, yet will
greatness, his addition, and uprightness
All sufi. natural bent be vicious."
Then Nushfrwan inquired : " Illustrious scholar !
Doth greatness come from toil or doth the world-lord
Get crown ai <>m fortune ? "
He replied : —
372 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
' The fortune and accomplishment of men
Are mates allied and joined like soul and body,
The body visible, the soul concealed.
The body is man's instrument for toil,
When wakeful fortune shall bestir itself,
But by his travail ne'er will he attain
To greatness if good fortune guide him not .
Again, the world is all deceit and wind,
Or memory of a dream that vanisheth
When one awaketh, whether he beheld
A pleasant vision or a painful one."
A question then occurred to Nushirwan ;
He asked the sage : " Who should be praised ? "
He answered : —
" A king that doth adorn the throne and hath
His strength from fortune will, if he doth justly,
And is of fair repute, attain his end
In word and deed."
:' What man is sorrowful,"
The Shah said, " luckless, and unprofitable ? "
The sage replied : " The wicked mendicant,
Who loseth both this world and Paradise."
" Who is the luckless one," rejoined the Shah,
" For whom we must weep always bitterly ? "
And Buzurjmihr replied : " The man of know-
ledge,
Whose face is sallow through his evil deeds."
The Shah asked further : " Who is the contented,
And who is anxious to increase his store ? "
He made response : " He that regardeth not
The revolutions of the turning sky."
Then Nushirwan : " What man best suiteth us ? "
And Buzurjmihr replied : " The gentlest man."
" But who is gentle," asked the Shah, " for why
The hasty give us cause to weep ? "
He answered ; —
NUSHIRWAN 373
.Mark him that shunneth converse with fault-
finders ;
That man hath modesty and gentleness,
With wisdom, counsel, and propriety."
The famed king asked him : " Who is hopefullest
Of men ? "
" The most industrious," he said, <_•. I?I6
" Whose ears are open unto knowledge most."
The monarch of the world inquired of him
Of privy rumour as to good and ill.
He thus returned reply : " It is the cause
Of ample chatter but an empty brain.
Say what they will the earth is still in place ;
I know not how the other world doth fare."
Then Nushirwan : " What land most prospereth.
And how have we contributed therein ? "
" The justice of the world-lord," he replied,
" Establisheth a land's prosperity."
Then Nushirwan inquired : " Inform me this :
t man is shrc -\\<1< -M . most approved, and prudent
Within the world because the adept increaseth
One's lustre ? "
He replied : "An ancient sage
That hath been mindful of experience."
Said Nushfrwan : " Who is the happy man
That Jivr.th upright and right glad ? "
He answered : —
" One free from apprehension and possessed
Of gold and silver '.
Xushirwan inquired : —
" Which of us best deserveth praise, and who
Is most approved by all ? "
He answered thus : —
" He that can hide his need and can suppress
. envy, greed, revenge, and jealousy :
That man will find approval in tin world."
374 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
The Shah inquired of the long-suffering,
Whose crown is patience.
Buzurjmihr replied : —
;< That is the man grown hopeless, with heart dark,
And yet his counsel is sun-bright, or else
The man that hath but little time to live,
And yet hath entered on some vast employ."
The Shah said : " Who hath grief so much at heart
That he is weary of his life through care ? "
And Buzurjmihr made answer thus : " The man
FalTn from a throne and desperate of fortune."
The exalted king inquired of him and said :—
" Who of us hath his heart in sorry plight ? "
The sage replied : " The man that is not wise,
And rich man childless."
" Whose heart," asked the Shah,
" Is sad through trouble and calamity ? "
He answered thus: "The upright man of know-
ledge
O'er whom besottedness is sovereign."
The Shah said : " Who is fullest of despair
Although possessing power and reputation ? "
" The man that falleth from a lofty throne,"
He said, " retaining still his pride of birth."
Shah Nushirwan inquired of him and said : —
" 0 man of foresight and of ardent soul !
Whom knowest thou unfamed and lustreless,
And yet deserving both of love and pardon ? "
He answered thus : " The man of many faults,
The culpable, the mendicant, and needy."
c. 1717 The Shah inquired and said : " Now tell me truly :
Who is it that repent eth of the past ? "
He said : " The great king who, when he shall put
The black cap on upon his dying-day,1
Repenteth with a heart all terror-stricken
1 Cf. Vol. i. p. 109.
NUSHIRWAN 375
Of all his life's ingratitude to God,
And he moreover who hath undergone
Abundant travail for ungrateful men."
The Shah inquired : " O sage that dost combine
All excellence ! know'st thou of aught that maketh
. The body profitable and is dear
To all men's hearts withal ? "
He made reply :— •
" In health the heart will seek but happiness,
But wlu-n through suffering the life is failing
Tin- body's one desire is then for health."
The Shah rejoined : " Good man ! expound to me
Which is the strongest of the appetites ? "
Said Buzurjmihr : " The great are not exposed
To such solicitings and, since their bodies,
Which have no wish unsatisfied, fare well,
Have only need to seek their heart's desire."
The Shah then asked his guide: "What is t he-
heart 's
Chief care ? "
" The sage," he answered, " would inform
i I - questioner that there are three chief cares-
First, apprehension of the evil day,
Lest ill then should befall the innocent ;
Next, of the practice of a treacherous friend .
Who fain would have brain, life and blood and skin ;
And thirdly, of a great but unjust king,
Who knoweth not the worthless from the good.
H"\v happy is the course of time with him
That hath a prudent tneiid and counsellor !
A bright world and a great king who is just —
Thou'lt get from heaven no greater excellence."
The Shah next asked of Faith and right — the means
Of hanmiiL' tram I and falsehood. He replied :—
" Incline, 0 Shah ! to one of Faith whose mind
Is filled with thoughts of God — the man averse
376 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
From guile and from the Div's way through his awe
Of holy God, the Master of the world,
And hearkening to His law. None such will barter
The Faith."
The Shah then asked concerning kings,
Whose rule is o'er the holy : " Which of them
Is of victorious fortune and throne-worthy ? "
He answered thus : " The just possessed of
wisdom,
Of counsel,1 modesty, and excellence."
The Shah then questioned him about old friends,
Such as are one with us in ear and speech.
He made this answer : " Magnanimity
And generosity are good in them ;
They will wish thee no ill to please another,
But aid and succour thee in thy distress."
£.1718 Said Nushirwan to him : " Who hath most
friends
That are to him as his own blood and skin ? "
He thus gave answer : " Save the faithless man
All would be joined to him whose heart is good.
And all the more the kinder that he is,
The more obliging, and conformable."
The Shah inquired : " Who hath most enemies
And most antagonistic ? "
Buzurjmihr
Returned him this reply : " The insolent,
For he incurreth many a malison,
And also any one that speaketh harshly,
Is ever frowning, and is close of fist."
Then said the Shah : " Who is the constant
friend,
One who will weep for pain of severance ? "
He answered : " 'Tis the friend that faileth not,
Is never vexed, and feareth not to suffer."
1 Reading with P.
NUSHIRWAN 377
"What lasteth," said the Shah, "and doth not
waste ? "
He made reply : " A benefit conferred
Is ever present to a worthy friend."
" What hath the chiefest lustre," said the Shah,
" And is a crown upon the head of all ? "
He said : " The sage's mind which mastereth
His passions."
Said the Shah: " O lord of lov
What is there wider than the turning sky ? "
He answered : " First, a king with open hand,
And in xt . the heart of one devote to God."
The Shah inquin d : " What is the goodlu >t way
\\"herein a wise man may exalt his head ? "
" 0 great king ! ne'er bestow," he made reply.
" Thy treasure on unholy men. For thee
To deal with the unthankful is to fling
Bricks unbaked into water."
Said the Shah :—
" What toil diminisheth man's greed for treasure ? "
Then Buzurjmihr replied : " O king ! for ever
Be thy heart like young spring. For very travail
The servant of a king of evil nature
Will cease to care for person, life, and wealth."
The Shah inquired : " What wonder hast thou s< « n
Than which a irreater cannot be conceived (
And Buzurjmihr made answer to the Shall :—
t urn ing sky is always wonderful,
i seest one possessed of mastery,
With en.wn exalted to the darksome cloud-.
Who cannot till his left hand from his right,
Or fortune's gain from loss discriminate :
Another man will read the lofty sky,
And trll tin- \\hy and the \\hnvfore of the stars,
Mill \\ill I.-ad him into straits,
And evil forti ';ly lot ! "
378 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
:< What thing know'st thou, as heaviest," asked the
Shah?
He thus returned reply : " The weight of sin."
The Shah inquired : "Of matters most unseemly,
Including in the question words and deeds,
C. 1719 Which is the greatest cause of shame and blame,
So that all folk pronounce it done amiss ? "
He thus made answer : " Harshness in a king ;
The persecution of the innocent ;
The nearness practised by the man of wealth
That is a niggard as to dress and food ;
In womankind the loud and strident voice
Of those whose modesty is forfeited ;
The infamy of men that do oppression,
And are high-handed with the indigent ;
While falsehood in a king or in a man
Of no account is ugly, foul, and vile."
Of all things in the world, apert or secret,
" What is that goodly one," said Nushirwan,
" Whereof the sage will fashion him a breastplate,
And therewithal illuminate his soul ? "
The sage made answer : " Earnestness of Faith
Will have but approbation from the world,
And secondly thanksgiving unto God
Charactereth a wise and holy man."
Said Nushirwan : " What is it best for kings
And mighty men to do and to avoid ?
What is there better than to rule, possess,
And look on others as inferiors ?
From what do we do wisely to refrain,
And what is good to seize upon and keep ? "
The sage replied : " Safeguard thy wrath as
knowing
That other folk will keep their eyes on thee ;
Next, let thy soul be ever on the watch,
And do thine utmost to abstain from ill.
NJJSHIRWAN 379
The soul of him that will forgo revenge,
And hope instead, will shine as doth the sun.
By means of sin thou wilt have many pleasures ;
Reject such pleasures and avoid the sin."
Thanks to the Master of the moon and sun
Tlu> parle of Buzurjmihr and Shah is done.
PART IV
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GAME OF CHESS
INTO IRAN. THE LEGEND OF THE INVEN-
TION OF THE GAME. THE DISCOVERY OF
THE BOOK OF KALfLA AND DIMNA
ARGUMENT
The Raja of Hind sends an envoy to Nushirwan with the
game of chess, proposing certain conditions which the Shah
accepts and, with the help of Buzurjmihr, carries out. Biizur-
jmihr invents the game of nard, and the Shah sends him with
it to the Raja, proposing similar conditions. The poet then tells
the legend of the invention of chess — how two sons of an Indian
queen quarrelled about the succession to her throne, how one of
them perished and how the other, to console his mother, invented
the game. Lastly the poet tells how a prince tributary to
Nushirwan was sent at his own request to Hind to find the herb
that restores the dead to life, and returned bringing instead the
Fables of Bidpai.
NOTE
§§ 1-3. Here, as in the case of the Yatkar-i-Zariran l and the
Kiirnamak,2 we are brought into contact with an extant Pahlavi
Text — the Tshatrang Namak — which was undoubtedly one of
Firdausi's indirect authorities. It was written, probably, about
the seventh century A.D., and tells how the king of Hind —
Dewasarm — sent an embassy to Nushirwan with gifts and the
game of chess which he had invented. The chess-men were one
half of emeralds and the other half of rubies. If the Iranians,
he writes to Ntishirwan, cannot explain the meaning of the game
they must pay him tribute or vice versd. None can find the mean-
ing till Buzurjmihr, who has been keeping himself in reserve,
appears on the third day, expounds the principle of chess,
1 See Vol. v. p. 24. 2 Id. vi. 195.
380
NU SHIR WAN 381
and proceeds to win twelve games against Dewasarm's envoy.
Biizurjmihr then invents nard, which is a form of backgammon,
takes it to Hind, puzzles the sages there with it, and returns
triumphant with double tribute. The similarity of the Pahlavi
Text to the Shahnama therefore is obvious. Probably in the
original story, no longer extant, the problem set was compara-
tively a simple one : " What did the board and pieces represent ? "
And the answer would be: "A battlefield." The misplaced
ingenuity of later redactors, however, has added impossible
details. A clever man of the time might guess by what the
game had been suggested, but the greatest that ever lived could
not have evolved the method of play from his inner consciousness,
assuming of course his complete previous ignorance of the game.
The Pahlavi Text gives the answer correctly and then proceeds
to make Buzurjmihr win twelve games right off! In the
Shahnama the Indian envoy himself gives away the whole tiling
by stating what the game represents, and then Buzurjmihr in
retirement discovers the powers of the various pieces and the
i which they are manipulated — an impossible achievement.
It will be observed that Firdausi describes two forms of the game
— that introduced into Persia for a board of sixty-four squares,
and that, which he considers to be the original, for a board of one
hundred squares. The powers of most of the pieces have altered
since those days. The tethered minister has changed his sex,
become the king's better half, and has acquired as much liberty
and preponderance as the most emancipated lady could desire,
but the knight's ingenious move has passed unchanged through
all vicissitudes.
Persian word " nard " means a tree-trunk, and it seems not
unreasonable to imagine that the game got its name from the re-
semblance of the pieces on the board to tree-stumps. The author
of the Tshatrang-Namak, however, tells us that the game was
named after the founder of the Sasanian Dynasty, Nau-Ardshir,
which became contracted into nard. Like chess it is symbolical
and represents human life as swayed or moulded by fate or fort urn-
whose decrees are written in the aspects of the stars and planets.
Thus the board represents the earth, the thirty pieces the days of
the month, the <.•••!• >ur «>f the pieces the nights and d.iys, &c.
Each throw of the dice too had its proper symbolism. The first
represented the Unity of Urmu/d, the second the duality of
heaven and earth, tin thn.l th. triad of Good Thoughts, Good
Words, and Good Deeds, tin- fourth tln« four temperaments— dry,
damp, warm, and cold, and so forth. Later Arabic writ* is
382 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
elaborated the symbolism considerably. The dice were taken to
represent the heavens and their motions, and the markings on
the dice the seven planets in as much as the numbers on the
opposite sides added together always make up the number seven,
one being opposite to six, two to five, and three to four. The
result of a throw was the decree of fate, &c. Nard may be said
therefore to surpass chess in sublimity of conception as much as
chess surpasses nard in its demands upon the intellect.
Firdausi does not tell us how nard was played, and the intro-
duction of the two kings, apparently on the analogy of those at
chess, is quite beside the mark. The poet's whole story of the
way in which chess was brought into Iran, and the invention of
nard, is quite unhistorical. We have had already in this volume l
an instance of one king propounding hard questions to another,
and in the next volume we shall have the problem of the mysteri-
ous box, on the elucidation of which a wager depends as in the
present case. According to Mas'udi, nard was invented before
chess and before the days of Porus, and chess in the time of one
of that king's successors, but he also states that the invention of
nard has been attributed to Ardshir Papakan.2 Elsewhere
Mas'iidi tells us that Nushirwan had the book of Kalila and
Dimna, chess, and a black hair-dye, brought from Hind.3
§ 3. Shahwi, Firdausi's authority for his story of the invention
of chess, perhaps may be identified with the Mahwi who collabor-
ated with four others in the work of putting the Bastan-nama
into modern Persian in the tenth century A.D.*
§ 4. Shadan, son of Barzin, was, it would seem, another of the
five above-mentioned collaborators.5
We appear to be here on much firmer historical ground than in
the corresponding stories of the introduction of chess and the
invention of nard. That the Fables of Bidpai were brought
from Hind to Persia in the reign of Nushirwan, and translated
from the Sanscrit into Pahlavi by Barzwi, seems to be admitted
generally, though of course we need not accept all the details of
Firdausi's version of the transaction. He is not very accurate in
what he says with regard to the later literary history of the
famous book. It was not translated into Arabic for the first
time in the reign of the Khalifa Mami'm (A.D. 813-833) but in the
i See p. 102. 2 MM, i. 157 seq.
3 Id. ii. 203. For the above generally see NFS, II, p. 20 seq. ;
HS, ii. 250 seq.
' See Vol. i. p. 67 ; NIN, p. 15. 5 Id.
NUSHIRWAN 383
previous century by Ibn Mukaffa.1 Firdausi is correct, however,
in stating that the Fables were translated into Persian verse by
the first great modern Persian poet, Rudagi, who enjoyed for
many years the munificent patronage of the Samanid prince,
Nasr son of Ahmad (A.D. 914-943), and of the minister Abti-1
Fazl, and died in A.D. 954. Unfortunately only fragments of
Rudagi's translation survive. The poet is said to have been
blind.
To compare small things with great, the Fables of Bidpai rival
the Romance cycle of Alexander in the extent of their diffusion.
They are said to have been translated into thirty-eight languages.9
It is not possible to enter into the subject here, but one illustra-
tion of the way in which the Fables passed from one language
into another may be given. The earliest English version of them
is that of Sir Thomas North — the translator of J'lutarch's Lives,
which Shakespeare put to such good account — and it was published
in 1570 under the title of Hie Morall Philosophic of Doni. It comes
to us as Sir Walter Blunt came to Henry IV,
"Stain'd with the variation of each soil "
through which it has passed, and its provenance is as follows :
" It is the English version of an Italian adaptation of a Spanish
translation of a Latin version of a Hebrew translation of an
Arabic adaptation of the Pehlevi version of the Indian original." '
In Sir Thomas North's version, o\\ "in^. it is said, to a misunder-
standing of the letters when the Fables were translated from the
Hebrew, Nushirwdn appears as Anestres Castri.4 It is interesting
to find that the wish expressed to Nushirwan by Barzwi6 has
been gratified. After all the vicissitudes through which the
book has passed his name and the story of his discovery of the
Fables still survive. In the English version he appears as
Beroziaa.8 We may add that apparently the Fables themselves
may be traced back to the Indian .l.itakus or ISirth Stories of
Buddha,7 and that the Jewish race, to which the world is indebted
for at least three religions, was the chief agent in the wi.l--
dissemination of the fables and the scientific study thereof.8
r whom MO Vol. vi. p. 17. * Ji i
> 1 » See p. 429.
• JFB, p. 34 seq- 7 1- ' . *»*• ' **• P- «v.
384 THE SHAHNAMA OF FJRDAUSI
§ I
How the Raja of Hind sent the Game of Chess to
Nushirwdn
Since this discourse, which so delighted thee,
Hath reached its end let chess our next theme be.
Thus said the archimage : The Shah one day
Adorned his throne with the brocade of Rum,
And hung the crown above the ivory throne —
A throne compact of teak and ivory.
The palace seemed all throne, the throne all Shah,
And all his court an army. All the palace
Was occupied by marchlords and archmages
From Balkh, Bukhara, and from every side.
The monarch of the world received these tidings,
Brought by his vigilant intelligencers : —
c. 1720 " The envoy of the king of Hind hath come
With elephants, with parasols, with horsemen
Of Sind and laden camels fifty score,
And seeketh to have access to the king."
The watchful Shah, on hearing this, forthwith
Sent certain troops to go and welcome him.
The envoy of that famed and puissant prince,
On coming to the great king's presence, did
Obeisance, as the use of nobles is,
With praises of the Maker of the world,
And gave the Shah abundant gems as gifts,
With earrings, elephants, and parasols.
These Indian parasols were decked with gold
With many sorts of jewels set therein.
He oped the bales within the court itself,
And brought their whole contents before the Shah.
There were much gold and silver in the bales
With musk, fresh aloe-wood, and ambergris,
Gems, diamonds, and burnished Indian swords ;
NUSHIRWAN 385
The Raja had amassed from eveiy hand
The products of Kannuj and Mai. They laid them
Before the throne. The prince of sleepless fortune
Yi« wed and dispatched to his own treasury
All that the Raja had so toiled for. Then
The envoy brought a letter which the Raja
Had written upon silk to Nushirwan,
And also, what had made a treasury void,
A chess-board wrought with cunning workmanship.
The man of Hind thus gave the Raja's message : —
" Mayst thou abide so long as heaven endureth !
Bid those much travailed in the quest for knowledge
To place this board, used in the game of chess,
Before them and set all their wits to work
To find out how that goodly game is played,
To find out what the name is of each piece,
The way to move it and its proper square,
To find out footman, elephant, and host,
Rukh, horse, and how to move wazir and king.
If they discover all this goodly game,
And prove themselves the betters of the wise,
Then, as the Shah commands h. 1 will send
Full tribute to his court with all good will ;
But if the nobles of the Iranian folk
Have not dge to resolve the point,
i , since their knowledge is no match for oursr
Let them not seek for tax and tribute hi i
But rather pay a tribute unto us,
Sine 'edge is of all famed things the b<
Both heart and ear gave Nushirwan to him
That on this wise discharged his < mbassage.
They set the board and men before the S!
Who looked upon the pieces for a while.
Half of the set was made of ivory
And bright, the other half of teak. The Shah,
Whose ' ;< \t r slumbered, then inquired c.
VOL. vn. 2 B
386 THE SHAHNAMA OF F1RDAUSI
About the pieces' shapes and that fair board.
The envoy thus replied : " 'Tis all, O king !
An emblem of the art of war, and thou
Wilt see, when thou hast found it out, the tactics,
The plan, and order of a battlefield."
The Shah said : "I require a se'nnight's space :
The eighth day we will play right willingly."
They had a pleasant residence prepared
To lodge the ambassador, and then the chiefs
And archimages that were counsellors
All came before the Shah and with the chess-board
In front of them considered it at large,
Examined it, tried every device,
And played with one another in all ways.
One spake and questioned, and another heard,
But none discovered how the game was played,
And all departed louring. Buzurjmihr
Came to the Shah, perceived him vexed and
troubled,
And saw ere he began the task its end.
" 0 great king," thus he spake to Nushirwan,
" World -lord and vigilant whose word is law !
I will discover all this goodly game,
Employing wisdom as my guide therein."
The Shah replied : "Be this affair thy task,
And thine moreover health and happiness,
Else now the Raja of Kannuj will say : —
' The Shah hath not a single counsellor,'
Which were a mighty slur upon the archmages,
Court, throne, and men of wisdom."
Buzurjmihr
Then took away with him the board and men,
And sat down with his thoughts intent thereon.
He tried to play the game in every way,
And sought to find the place for every piece.
He found the game out in one day and night,
NUSHIRWAN 387
Then hastened from his palace to the Shah,
And said : " 0 Shah whose fortune triumpheth !
These pieces and this goodly board have I
Well studied and I understand it all,
Helped by the fortune of the world's great king.
'Tis fitting that the king of kings should be
The first to see it played. Thou wilt declare : —
' It is indeed a battlefield ! ' Then call
The Raja's envoy and spectators also."
The king joyed at his words, saluted him
As prosperous and fortunate, then bade
The archimages, nobles, and famed sages
Attend. He called the envoy of the Raja,
And seated him before the famous throne.
Said Buzurjmihr, that man of eloquence :—
" Priest of the Raja of the sunlike face !
What were the words thy monarch said to thee
About those pieces ? Wisdom be thy mate."
" The illustrious R&ja," he replied, " when I C. 1722
Was quitting him said thus to me : * Convey
These teak and ivory pieces to the throne
Of him that is the master of the crown,
And say : " Assemble to thee thine arch mages
And counsellors, and set before them these.
If they find how to play thi§ clever game
In t he approven way, and master it,
We will dispatch unto thee purses, slaves,
And tribute to the utmost of our powers.
The king's worth will arise from knowledge then,
Not from his treasures, men, and lofty throne ;
But if he and his wise men fail herein,
As being dark of counsel, then must he
Demand no 1 rilmte from us and no treasure.
His knowing soul then \\ ill regret past toils,
alising our shrewd hearts and couns
He will dispatch still greater wealth to us." ' "
388 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Then Buzurjmihr brought and set up before
The throne of him whose fortune never slept
The board and men, and said to archimage
And chief : " Ye sages pure of heart and wise !
Heed well his words and his shrewd lord's proposal."
The sage then fashioned him a battlefield,
Whereon he gave the kings the central place,
And drew their forces up to left and right,
The footmen eager for the fray in front.
Beside the king his prudent minister
Was posted to advise him in the fight.
The warrior-rukhs impetuous on their steeds
Were at the wings and fought on right and left.
Adjoining these the bat tie -chargers stood,
So that the great king proved the Raja's match,
And then the elephants of war arrayed
On either side both eager for the fight.
When Buzurjmihr had thus disposed the host
The whole assembly stood amazed thereat,
The ambassador of Hind was sorely vexed,
And marvelled at that man of sleepless fortune,
He marvelled at that warlock of a man,
And thus his musings ran while plunged in thought : —
" He never saw the board and game of chess,
Or heard about it from the^adepts of Hind !
How hath he learned the fashion of the game ?
None else could take his office."
Nushirwan
So treated Buzurjmihr that thou hadst said
That fortune had unveiled its face before him.
The king thereafter gave commands to fill
A cup with royal gems. This and a purse,
Dinars and steed with saddle on, gave he
To Buzurjmihr and praised him mightily.
NUSHIRWAN 389
§ 2
How Buzurjmihr invented Nard, and ho rwdn
sent it with a Letter to the Raja of Hind
The sage, upon returning to his home, C. 1723
Arranged a board and compasses before him,
Selecting first of all a darkened room
To make his wits more keen, then mused on chess
And Indian subtlety, and mustering all
II powers made wisdom wed his ardent heart,
And meditating thus invented nard.
II bade to make two dice of ivory
\Yith dots the colour of teak-wood thereon,
Arrayed a field of battle as in chess,
And drew up the opposing hosts for war,
Arranging them in eight battalions,
All ready for pitch-battles or for sieges.
The ground was dark, the bat tit-fir Id foursquare,
Two noble, cl< m« -nt kings were in command,
Who had a common movement on the fiVld.
But neither sought the other's injury.
The troops arrayed beneath their leadership
For battle on both sides were keen for fight.
s catch an unsupported foe,
twain inflict defeat upon the one.
two kings move about the field
In pomp surrounded by their several hosts,
Each wheeling round about upon the other.
And combating l>y turns on lull and plain.
On this wise till one side was overthrown
The armies of both monan-hs kept the lidd.
Twas thus that Bu/.ui jiuil i \ as I have said,
n ted nard. t ! t and told the Shah
How from the moves of those imperious kings
Came praise or blame, what powers the pieces had,
390 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And how the armies fought ; these he set forth,
And showed in detail to the Shah whose heart
Was all astound ; he needed all his wits,
And said : " O man of ardent soul ! mayst thou,
And may thy fortune, still continue young."
He bade the keeper of the camels bring
Two thousand to him and then loaded them
With contributions raised from Rum and Chin,
The Haitalians, from Makran, and from Iran,
And from the treasury of the king of kings.
The caravan departed from the court.
Whenas the camel-loads were all arranged,
And that concern was off the monarch's heart,
He called the Raja's envoy unto him,
And of his knowledge uttered many words,
c. 1724 He wrote a letter to the Raja full
Of learning, pleasantry, good sense, and counsel,
And in the first place gave great praise to God,
Who was his refuge from the lusty Div,
Then " Raja, high renowned, of Hind," he said,
" Down from the river of Kannuj l to Sind !
Thy wise ambassador hath come to us
With parasols, with elephants, and escort,
With tribute and with chess, and I have heard
The Raja's embassage. The task is done.
We asked the Indian sage for time, we decked
Our soul with knowledge, and an archimage,
A very prudent sage of holy rede,
Hath sought and found out how the game is played,
Now that wise archimage hath come before
The exalted Raja at Kannuj and brought
Two thousand heavy camel-loads of things 2
Acceptable — a keepsake for thyself —
And we have substituted nard for chess.
1 Cf. p. 112, note.
2 Reading with P.
NUSHIRWAN 391
What man now will adventure on this game ?
There must be many a Brahman well advised,
Who by his learning can discover it.
The Raja may consign to treasury
The riches that have been the envoy's care,
But if the Raja and his counsellors
Shall try to find out nard, and fail therein,
He must according to our covenant
Load up as many camels as we sent,
And send them back with ours and all their loads ;
Such is our pact and bargain."
Buzurjmihr,
What time the sun was radiant in the sky,
Departed from the portal of the Shah
With baggage,1 letter, and the game of nard,
His heart absorbed by thoughts of his campaign.
On coming to the Raja from tan,
The Brahman acting willingly as guide,
He went before the R&ja's throne, beheld
His head, his fortunes, and his diadem,
Praised him no little in the olden tongue,
Then gave the royal letter, and repeated
The verbal message of the king of kings.
The Indian R&ja's face bloomed like a rose.
The message spake of chess, the R&ja's pains,
His tribute, how the game of chess had fared,
Tin play, the pieces, and the king's right moves,
And those moreover of his counsellors.
Ii i nl<l \\ it hal the achievement of the sage,
Who had invented nard in rivalry,
And ended thus : " Now let the Raja read
The letter, act, and swerve not from the right."
The R&ja's face grew pallid at the words,
On hearing that account of chess and nard.
There came a great official and assigned
1 Reading with P.
392 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
A fitting lodging to the ambassador.
They had a jocund residence prepared,
And called for wine and harp and minstrelsy.
*725 The Raja asked a space of seven days,
And all the Lights of learning came to him.
He gathered all the elders of the realm,
And laid the game of nard before them there.
For one whole se'nnight all the shrewdest men
Among the nobles, whether old or young,
Sought to discover out of emulation,
For fame and triumph, how the game was played ;
But to the Raja at the se'nnight 's end
A sage said : " No one can make aught thereof,
And wisdom must be wedded to his soul,
Who from these pieces can invent a game."
The Raja's heart was troubled at those sages,
His soul was sorrowful, his brow contracted.
Upon the ninth day Buzurjmihr arrived,
With eager heart and furrowed face, and said :—
" The Shah accorded me no tarriance here,
And he must not be straitened in his heart."
The learned magnates went aside and owned
Their ignorance, while Buzurjmihr, on hearing,
Sat down, and all the sages gave good heed
While he set out the board of nard before them,
And told the movements of the various pieces,
Displayed the leader and his warlike troops,
The king's power and the order of the fight.
The Raja and his counsellors were all
Astound, the company in wonderment,
At Buzurjmihr, the chiefs all lauded him,
And hailed him as a holy sage. The Raja
Interrogated him upon all lore,
And he in each case gave a fit response.
Then from the sages, from the searchers out
Of knowledge, and the scholars rose a cry : —
NUSHIRWAN 393
" Behold an eloquent and learned man,
\«t merely skilled in games like chess and nard ! "
The Raja had two thousand camels brought,
And laid on them the tribute of KaniuYj,
Gold, camphor, ambergris, and aloe-wood,
As well as raiment, silver, pearls, and gems,
With one year's tribute, and dispatched it all
From his court to the portal of the Shah.
Raja had a coronet and robe,
That reached from head to foot, of his own u
Brought from his treasury and then bestowed them
On Buzurjmihr, gave him much praise with il.
And to his retinue abundant gifts.
So from Kannuj departed Buzurjmihr
Wit li head exalted to the turning sky.
With those two thousand camels brought l>v him,
And all the gifts and tribute in his charge.
No one had looked on such a caravan
Before, and never had been grea !th.
ioyed at heart as bearing from the king
< >: Hind a script in Indian characters
!k : " The Raja and his mighty men
st for good will, not for fear, that none
Hath looked on any like Shah Nushirwan, c. 1726
Or ever heard of one such from the priests,
Or met one \N
r of whose knowledge is the s
<>r the year was sent before,
more shall be if thou demandest i t .
While in the matter of the games the stakes
k< wise as agreed upon."
Now wh«-n the Shall ^it tidings of his sage : —
" He hath arrived well satisfi- -d and glad,"
!!«• VTOfl n-joiced at that intelligence,
' y and nt host,
rums and t ymbals,
394 THE SHHANAMA OF FIRDAUSI
To sally forth to welcome Buzurjmihr.
That honoured sage's entry of the city
Resembled that of some great conquering king,
And when that man of lore approached the throne,
And proffered praise exceedingly, the Shah,
Lord of the world, embraced him and inquired
About the Raja and the weary way,
While Buzurjmihr told his experiences,
His sleepless fortune and the love of heaven,
Then brought the conquering Raja's letter forth,
And laid it down before the throne. The Shah
Then gave command for Yazdagird, the scribe,
To come before the knowledge-seeking king,
And when he read the Raja's letter all
The company were in astonishment
Both at the wit and rede of Buzurjmihr,
And at the fortune of his sun-faced Shah,
Who spake on this wise, saying : " God be praised
That I have such a wise and holy sage.
The great are servants of my crown and throne,
And love of me hath filled their hearts and minds."
Thanks to the Lord of sun and moon, for He
Bestoweth victory and mastery,
That which I next shall utter will appear
A tale more strange than that of Buzurjmihr,
Whom heaven with such intelligence did bless :
I tell the legend of Talhand and chess.
§3
The Story of Gav and Talhand, and the Invention of Chess 1
Thus spake Shahwi, the ancient sage, so be
Attentive to the tale of old Shahwi : —
Once on a time there lived a king in Hind,
1 This heading is taken from P.
NUSHIRWAN 395
One puissant in treasure, troops, and arms,
And everywhere renowned, Jamhur by name,
And passing Fur himself in fame for valour.
Such was this king, of such an ardent spirit,
So vigilant and prudent, that from Bust
And from Kashmir down to the march of Chin C. 1727
The chieftains homaged him, and all the world
Was in his grasp, so mighty was his prowess.
He had his dwelling-place at Sandal i ;
Here was his throne, hist reasures, and his troops,
Here were his signet -ring and here his crown.
Jamhur was worshipful, a man of lore,
Pre-eminent in knowledge and distinction,
And all his lieges, whether of his court
Or of his city, joyed alike in him.
it hy wife, a prudent dame,
Accomplished, learned, and one that injured none.
One night a son was born to him just like
His sire, who when he saw the youthful prince
Bade call him Gav, but soon and suddenly
The monarch sickened, told the queen his will,
And (iii (1 t" <{u< athing unto Gav a world,
When juMiec ruled, though yet he was unfit,
By reason of his infancy, for throne,
For crown and girdle. All the chieftains' heads
Were full of dust, their hearts were sorrowful
By reason of Jamhur, and all the world
St'll kept in mind the memory of his bounty,
His feasts, and justice. Troops and citizens —
Men, women, children — met and thus took counsel : —
" This little infant wotteth not of host,
( )i justice, rigour, throne, and crown. The sway
Will suffer if the ruler be not gr» .
The monarch had a brother \\ ho was wise,
And fitt the 1 hrone : his name was Mai.
duelling-place of that idolater
396 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Was at Dambar, and all the veteran chiefs,
In looking for a king, turned to Dambar
Their face from Sandali, while of Kashmir
The potentates up to the march of Chin
Did homage to him as their sovereign.
The exalted Mai came from Dambar and set
His feet upon the throne of majesty,
Placed on his head the crown worn by Jamhur,
And ruled with justice and with bounteousness.
He took to wife Gav's mother, cherished her,
And held her all as dear as his own life.
The fay -faced dame became with child by Mai,
And that illustrious lady bare a son,
Whom Mai, that mighty monarch, named Talhand,
And loved with all his soul. Now when the babe
Was two years old and Gav was seven, and grown
A lusty warrior dowered with Grace and stature,
Mai ailed, his glad heart was espoused to care.
He languished for two se'nnights' space, then died,
And passing left the world to other's hands.
C. 1728 AH Sandali was sorrowful and wept,
And burned with pain of heart because of him.
They spent a month in mourning for the king,
And at the end thereof the whole host met,
The great men and the warriors of the state —
All that had part in wisdom. Much talk passed
In that assembly on all points. At length
A wise man thus addressed the counsellors : —
" This lady, who was once spouse to Jamhur,
Hath kept herself at all times from ill-doing,
In both her marriages hath sought the right,
And followed after justice all her days.
The lady is of noble lineage,
Just, upright, and inspireth confidence.
'Tis best that she should be our queen, for she
Bemaineth — the memorial of two kings."
NUSHIRWAN 397
The assembly all assented thereunto,
And then the sage addressed the wise queen thus : —
" Take thou the throne of thy two sons, for this
\Yill make for greatness, and there is no choice.
When they grow worthy of the throne resign
To them the majest y. the wealth, and host,
And be from that time forth their counsellor,
Companion, minister, and best of friends."
The lad}' — fortune's favourite — at these words
Gave hi -tie to the crown and graced the throne,
Grew kinder, more considerate, and just,
And all the realm rejoiced in her. She chose
Two men wise, holy, travelled, and accomplished.
And to their charge entrusted both her sons —
Those princes of high lineage and wise.
Withal she never left them for a day,
And found her happiness in seeing them.
Now as they grew in lustiness and lore,
Becoming mighty men in that regard,
One or the other used to come alone
To his good mot ! r and anon,
And ask : " Which is the fittest of us twain,
Most high of heart, most likely, and most shrewd ? "
And thus the in nly to both :—
at I may know which is more excellent .
Show prowess, counsel, self-control, and Fait IK
Fair speech, and an ambit i<>n to be praised ;
For wisdom, modesty, self -governance,
And justice, are required since ye are both
Of royal birl
When one of them would com.
Alone at whiles before her and inquire :—
" Which of us twain will have the sovereign i
•h <>t us li.ivr the treasure, throne, and crown ?"
Then would she answer him : " The throne is thii
visdom, counsel, fortune, are thine own. "
398 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
She said the same thing to the other also
Until the saying grew inveterate,
And thus she made the heart of each expectant
Of throne, wealth, host, fame, fortune. They attained,
c- 1729 Each with a baleful tutor for his guide,
To man's estate, and through their mutual envy
Both suffered, both were hot for crown and treasure,
The whole realm and the host were rent in twain,
While good men's hearts grew fearful. Both the sons,
Impassioned by their baleful tutors' talk,
Came to their mother, crying : " Which of us
Is best and meekest under good and ill ? "
That prudent lady made them this reply :—
" First it is needful for you both to sit
In counsel with the sages pure of heart,
And solve this question in content and peace,
And after do ye and your tutors ask
The great men most renowned throughout the state,
All those possessed of counsel as their portion,
As to your right procedure in this case.
Whoever seeketh crown and throne hath need
Of wisdom, treasure, counsel, and a host,
For when a tyrant hath the sovereignty
He filleth all the world with heat and ruin."
Shrewd Gav made answer to his mother thus : —
" Seek not to parry so my questioning.
If I am not the lustre of this realm,
Say so, but say not aught that is untrue.
Deliver to Talhand the throne and crown,
And I will be a loyal liege to him,
While if as older, wiser, and by birth
Sprung from Jamhur, I am to be the king,
Forbid him in his folly to attempt
Strong measures for the sake of crown and throne."
His mother answered : " Act not hastily :
Thou shouldst push not these matters to extremes.
NUSHIRWAN 399
Whoever sitteth on the throne must have
His two hands open and his girdle girt,
Must keep his pure soul guarded too from evil,
And walk with knowledge in the sage's way,
Must too be wary of the foe in fight ,
And heed what maketh for his reputation.
The Master of the sun and moon will judge
His acts just and unjust to state and host,
And if the king oppresseth but a gnat
His spirit will be left to mourn in Hell.
The world is more obscure than night itself,
And hearts must be more subtle than a hair
To keep the soul and body 1 free from evil,
And recognise that guile will profit not.
When one is crowned and sitteth on the throne
Of justice all the world will joy thereat,
Yet is his end a couch of brick and dust,
Or else cremation in the funeral pit.
Of such a stock as this Jamhur was sprung,
Whose counsels were remote from deeds of ill.
He died before his natural time to die,
And left his younger brother as the heir
To all his world. Great Mai came from Dambar, £. ,730
Still young, shrewd -hearted, and a counsellor.
All Sandali went out to welcome him
With full hearts and all eager for a king.
He came and sat upon the throne of power
With girdle girded and with open hands.
He sought me as his spouse, and we were wedded
That so state-secrets might be secrets still.
\ since thou art the elder of the twain .
The elder both in wisdom and in years,
Strive not to vex thy spirit for the sake
Miincnce, of treasure, and of crown,
hoose one of you the other one
Will he fulfilled with pain and with revenge
1 Reading with P.
400 THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI
At me. Shed no blood for the sake of crown
And treasure, for this Wayside Hostelry
Abideth not with any."
When Talhand
Had heard his mother's words he liked them not,
And thus replied : " Thy sentence is for Gav,
Because he is the elder, but although
My brother is mine elder as to years
Still every elder is not better too.
Within this host and realm is many a man
As ancient as the vultures of the sky,
And yet such never sought for place or host,
Or diadem or treasure, throne or crown.
My father died when young and did not give
The throne of majesty to any. I see
Thy heart in foolishness disposed toward Gav,
And that thou wilt give him the preference,
Though I could make as good as him from clay !
God grant that ne'er I shame my father's name."
His mother sware a solemn oath and said : —
" May I forgo the azure vault of heaven
If ever I desired of God to make
Gav king or ever set my heart thereon.
Think with all charity concerning this,
And rail not at the process of the sky,
Because it doeth good to whom it will :
So look to God alone and trust none other.
I have advised you to the best I could,
But if my counsel be of no avail
Consider what is better and that do :
Strive and make that the provand of your lives."
The queen thereafter summoned all the wise,
And laid before them all that she proposed.
She brought the keys that oped the treasury
Belonging to those two kings wise and good,
Displayed the wealth therein reposited
NUSHIRWAN 401
Before those men of much experience,
Gave both her sons an equal share and sought
To satisfy the claims of both of them.
Thereafter Gav spake to Talhand and said : —
" Thou, good of heart but bent on novel schemes !
Jarnhur, as thou hast heard, was greater far
Than Mai, alike in counsel and in years.
Thy si iv. that virtuous and noble man, C. 1731
Showed not tin- least ambition for the crown.
It was no shame to him to be a subject :
uirht no kind of lordship o'er the lords.
Mark if the just Judge will approve that I
Shall gird myself before my younger brother.
Our mother spake but justiee. wherefore then
Should thy heart joy in that which is not just ?
Now summon we the leaders of the host,
Wise mm and well .acquainted with the world,
And having listened to the sages' words,
Assent to their decision and advice ;
\\ . -hall l«-arn knowledge from them and illume
Our hearts with understanding."
Those two sages —
Mm. of good counsel — n much talk passed.
Gav's sage required that Gav should be the king
In Sandalf and take the foremost place ;
The other, \\h«» \\;is tutor to Talhand,
And wisest of the wise, spoke up for him ;
wranirled till the pri nets were at odds.
Wit hin one hall t wo thrones were set whereon
Those princes of virtorioiis fortune sat,
Each with his lusty sage upon his right,
And covetous of hi> ii hei HIM
They summoned all the nobles to the hall.
And seated them to ri^ht hand and to left .
Then those two sages loosed their tongues and said : —
"Oy« illustrious and famous men !
<i.. \ n. 20
402 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Of these two chiefs of glorious lineage,
Who keep the customs of their sires in mind,
Which will ye have as ruler over you ?
Which youth do ye esteem the holier ? "
The priests, the nobles, and the wise men shrewd
Of heart, were lost in wonderment thereat.
The two young princes sat, each on his throne,
While those ill-omened sages both harangued,
And citizen and soldier knew full well
That only war and strife could come of it,
That all the empire would be rent asunder,
The wise man left in travail and dismay.
Then from the company one raised his head,
Rose to his feet, and said : " How dare we speak
What profiteth before two famous kings ?
Assemble we to-morrow and discuss
The case among ourselves without reserve,
And then announce our sentence to them both :
It may be that they both will be content."
They left the hall with murmurs and in dudgeon,
Sighs on their lips and sorrow in their souls,
And said : ' ' This business hath grown troublesome
Beyond the handling of experienced men.
We never saw two kings confronted thus,
With two bad ministers upon the dais."
C. 1732 All night their faces had a careworn look,
And when the sun arose above the mountains
The great men of the state, the wise, assembled,
On all sides Sandal i was filled with clamour,
And every man spake that which liked him best.
One warrior was the partisan of Gav,
Another for Talhand was advocate .
Tongues tired of talking, there was no accord.
At length that great assembly was dissolved,
And citizens and soldiers went their ways,
One to give in adherence to Talhand,
NU SHIR WAN 403
And utter malisons on Gav, another
To go to Gav with mace and sword, and cry : —
I will begrudge not life to serve the king."
Confusion filled the realm of Sandal i
Through honest partisanship. Saith the sage : —
" When two command within one house 'twill fall."
Then tidings came to Gav and to Talhand : —
" Each quarter hath a leader of its own.
Who laveth waste the city at his will :
The princes must not suffer it . "
The news
Filled both of them with fear, and they kept wateh
Both night and day, and thus it came to pass,
One day, that both young princes chanced to meet
Without their paladins or any escort.
They set their tongues loose, each against the otl
Frowns on their brows and warlike thoughts within.
The noble Gav was full of lamentation,
The tidings moved him deeply, and he said
Thus to Talhand : " My brother ! act not thus,
Bjcause for us the thing hath passed all bounds,
But be content and follow not mad schemes,
For they have no allurement for the wise.
Afl thou hast heard, Ma;. while .lamhur still lived,
Was as a slave before him. When he died,
• mi- >till a miserable babe,
could give not the throne to one so young.
"ild had grown so just beneath his rule
That no one dared to seek to till his plaee.
l.mth'T was as body is to soul
To him and all wished Mai to be their king.
• n I had been fitted for the throne
ic ever would have looked at him. Let us
Ensue the precedents of kings of yore,
\nd heu tin- \\ ise on points .,|' n^hl and wrong.
I am thy Letter l>oih l»y years and father.
404 THE SHAHNAMA OF F1RDAUSI
Thou sayest : ' I am both the chief and better.'
But say not so. Seek not unworthily
The throne of kingship, or fulfil the realm
With strife."
Talhand thus answered him : " Enough !
None ever compassed power by subtleties.
This crown and throne received I from my sire,
Received it as the seed that he had sown,
1733 And henceforth I will guard the sovereignty,
The host, and treasure, with the scimitar.
Prate not to me of Mai and of Jamhur :
If thou wilt have the throne then fight for it."
They turned away with heads fulfilled with strife,
And went within the city to prepare.
The soldiers and the citizens all keen
For war betook them to the princes' courts.
One faction was in favour of Talhand,
The other favoured Gav. The battle-cry
Rose at the princes' doors. No standing-room
Was left within the city for the throng.
Talhand was first to arm him for the fight,
Because his courage would brook no delay.
He oped the portal of his father's hoards,
And served out helm and mail to all his troops.
The state was rent asunder, and the wise
Were full of fear at heart, and thus they said : —
" What is the end that heaven purposeth,
And which of these young men will lose his life ? "
News of both kings was bruited through the
realm,
And from all sides hosts gathered troop on troop.
Talhand was first to put his armour on,
And bathe his hands in blood. Gav also donned
His coat of mail and helmet, and invoked
The spirit of his sire. Embittered thus
They both took action, housed the elephants,
NUSHIRWAN 405
And saddled them. Thou wouldst have said : "The
earth
iger for the combat." All the city
Was filled with din of gong and Indian bells,
All i -ar- \\vre charged with blare of clarions.
-i* two young kings departed to thrir camps,
And every one took his own life in hand.
That battlefield tilled heaven with amaze,
And eyes were darkened by the dust of hosts.
The flourish of the trumpets and the clash
Of brazen cymbals went up from both lines.
wings were drawn up to the right and lett .
And thou hadst said : " Earth is all mount ain-lik< .
The armies' fronts extended o'er two miles.
Those two great kings rode each his elephant.
Tin ir standards waved above their heads. One bore
_rer, one an eagle, as device.
I footmen were in front equipped with spears
And bucklers, and all ready for the fight.
Gav looked upon the field and saw the air
ked like the markings on a savage pard.
Each throat } was full of dust, the plain all blood,
And midst the dust the lances led the way.
Gav, though Talhand had angered him, and wisdom
Had stitched not up t lie lips of his ambition,
Yet chose him out a man of fluent speech—
The chiefest of his nobles — and thus said : —
" Go to Talhand and >ay to him : ' Ensue not
\\ith thy hn»tlier in this unjust fashion,
Since thou wilt sutler in the other world ('- i?34
For all the blood shed in this st rite of ours.
ear to Gav's advice and err not thou
Through what an <-\ il counsellor may say.
In this conjuiH -inn- ne'er must thi- reproach
lain as our2 memorial — that tins realm
1 Reading with P. « Id.
406 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Of Hind is desolate, the lurking-place
Of lions and of pards. Forbear this war
And strife, and wantonly to shed this blood
Unjustly. Joy my heart with peace and save
Our necks by making use of wisdom's net.
Stretch out thy rod from this march unto Chin,
And let what e'er thou wilt of earth be thine.
I will esteem thy love as mine own soul,
And set thee as a crown upon my head.
Share we the kingship as we shared the wealth ;
Throne and tiara are not worth such pains ;
But if thus wholly thou art bent on strife,
Injustice, and the scattering of the flock,
Now gathered, in this world thou wilt be blamed,
And judged in that to come. Incline not, brother !
To wrong ; it cannot stand against the right.' '
Now when the envoy came before Talhand,
Came with the prudent embassage of Gav,
Talhand returned this answer : " Say to him : —
' Employ not so much subterfuge in warfare.
I call thee neither brother nor a friend ;
Thou art not, brain or skin, akin to me,
And wilt but make the empire desolate
By thus assailing these my gallant troops.
The knaves are with thee and are thine Urmuzd
Upon Bahrain's day.1 Thou art guilty too
In God's sight as ill-famed, misgot, and curst.
For all blood shed by thee in fight henceforth
The curses will be thine, the blessings mine.
Thou said'st moreover : " Let us share the realm,
The land, the worship, and the ivory throne,"
But treasure, power, and kingship all are mine,
Mine from the sun down to the Fish's back.2
As long as thou dost play the king, dost share
1 i.e. thy leaders on the day of action. Cf. Vol. iii. p. 287.
• See Vol. i. p. 71.
NUSHIRWAN 407
Tin- land with me, and wouldest be my mat. .
I wish my body and my soul may part
Or ever I shall look on throne and crown.
My host have I arrayed, and even now
The air is like brocade all shot with gold ;
So many are the arrows, darts, and spearlu -ads
That none can toll his stirrups from his rein>.
II- ids will I scatter on the battlefield,
Will bring a wail of woe from all Gav's troops,
And in such fashion lead my host to fight
That I will sate with war that Warrior-pard.
1 will lead Gav himself with bounden hands,
His troops shall see the dust of overthrow,
Their Leaden shall be lit'.-l. ^s by my sword, '735
Tlu-ir wounded men shall writhe in misery.
For none of tin -in from bondslaves up to prin
Shall don again his breastplate for the fight .
The prudent envoy having heard his answer.
lined and gave it word for word. Gav's heart
Was sad at hearing it because he saw
No knowledge hi Talhand, and full of care
Called his own sage, discoursed of the response
At large, and said : " Suggest a remedy,
Thou seeker after wisdom ! for this case.
- all blood and trunkless heads,
And souls pass to the Judge of all the world.
This battle mu-t m.t hriiiL'. when all is done,
111 fortune on us."
Said the sage : " O king !
Thou needest not a tea* IK i \<> teach thee,
But it'ilinu will have mine advice herein. . . .
In fighting with thy br»»t her be not fierce,
And wnd him yet another messenger,
A man of high rank learned, and eloquent,
To give yet one more message. He still may
Abate hostility. Resign to him
408 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
The treasures gathered by the toil of others,
Preferring thereunto thy brother's life.
Since both the crown and signet -ring are thine
Forbear to wrangle with him as to pelf,
For I have seen from heaven's processes
That his time endeth shortly, and that none
Of all the seven planets favoureth him.
Moreover he will perish on this field
Of strife. Thou hast no need to press him. Give him
Whatever he shall ask of steeds and wealth,
So that thou mayst repent not at his death,
The royal signet, crown, and throne excepted,
For fear the troops may call thee faint of heart ;
But thou if king and fortune's favourite
Art versed yet more in heaven's purposes."
The prince, when he had heard his tutor's words,
Made yet a new endeavour. With wet face,
Through anguish for his brother's sake, he chose
One favoured by the stars and eloquent,
And said to him : " Go to Talhand and say : —
' Gav is fulfilled with trouble and with pain
As touching heaven's purpose and this fight,
And prayeth that the almighty Judge of all
Will stir up love and prudence in thy heart,
So that thou mayest yet renounce this strife
Against thy brother. If 'tis through thy sage,
Who haunteth thee, deceiving thy dark soul,
That thou art grown so fierce and quarrelsome
Still thou canst not escape the course of heaven.
Ask the twelve signs and seven planets how
C. 1736 This unjust work will fare. Foes compass us,
And all the world is full of wicked men ;
Moreover by the monarch of Kashmir,
And by Faghfur of Chin, who even now
Are pressing on our realm, we shall be flouted
On two sides, and by other warrior-chiefs.
NUSHIRWAN 409
How they will say : " Why are Talhand and Gav
Contending for the sake of throne and crown ?
An they not then of common stock by birth.
Not each the offspring of a holy si
And yet when counsellors of evil heart
So prompt tin-in they must put their hands to blood ! "
If thou wilt leave thy host and visit me,
And so illume this darkened soul of mine.
I will bestow on thee dinars, brocade,
Steeds, treasure ; I would have thee all untroubled.
Thou shalt have also jewels, province, sigi
And cmwn. with armlets and an ivory throne.
se from an elder brother are no shame,
And I desire not battle, but if thou
Wilt hearken not my rede thou wilt repent
At last.' '
The envoy, speeding torrent-lik
Came to Talhand, the dark of soul, and told
What Gav had said to him and added more
Concerning kingship, wealth, dinars, and goods.
Whenas Talhand had heard the envoy's speech,
wisdom, and his prudent policy,
He would assent not to his brother's words,
Because the heaven purposed otherwise,
But made this answer, saying : " Say to Gav : —
* Be thou a schemer still, and may thy tongue
Be severed by the scimitar of ill.
Thy body burnt up in the Magians' lire !
Thy crude proposals have I heard and see
all thy stock-in-trade is subterfuge.
How wilt thou give to me the royal treasure.
For who art thou amongst this mighty people ?
Good sooth ! thy lite must U- niirh - 6 thou
Displayest such prolonged anxiety !
armies' ranks extend two miles, the world
I i 'i 1 1 oi men, of steeds, and elephants.
410 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
March forth and set the battle in array :
Thou earnest forth to fight ; why dally then ?
Thou 'It see such prowess from me that the stars
Will have to tell the total of thy days.
Thou knowest naught but practice, craft, and lies,
Perceiving that thy downfall is at hand.
Thou art afar from counsel, crown, and throne,
And no wise man will call thee fortunate.' '
The envoy came charged with these blustering
words,
And told the prince's answer. Thus, until
Dark night displayed its face, the envoy fared
Between the twain who, camping on the field,
Dug out a trench before their several hosts.
c- *737 The outposts went their rounds. Thus passed the
v night.
Now when Sol rose in Leo, making earth
As 'twere a sea of splendour, and, all golden,
Enrobed the dome of lapis-lazuli,
From both the camp-enclosures rose the blare
Of clarions and the roar of kettledrums,
The flags of both young princes were displayed,
And both the hosts deployed to right and left,
While at their centres those exalted princes
Were stationed, each with his sage minister.
Gav bade his to proclaim thus to the chiefs :—
" Raise ye your standards, every man of you !
Let every one draw forth his blue steel sword,
But not a warrior advance a step,
Or any of the foot -men quit his post,
For none is sober, wise, and well advised,
That is impetuous on the day of battle :
I would take note of how Talhand deployeth.
The counsel of all-holy God alone
Prevaileth from bright sun to darksome dust,
And I am hopeful that Almighty God
NU SHIR WAN 411
Will grant to us a glorious destiny.
Tried have we counsel and in loving fashion
Have pleaded, but Talhand is still av<
If now our host shall be victorious,
if the process of the sun and moon
Afford us fruit, shed ye not blood for spoil.
Because ye shall receive a treasure-hoard ;
And if some famous warrior of our host,
Who chargeth on their centre, shall perchance
Confront Talhand in fight he must not cast
The diiM upon him. Praying as we go,
And with our girdles girt, confront we n<>\\
Yon mighty elephants."
The soldiers shouted : —
" We will perform thy bidding and will make
Thy counsel the adornment of our souls."
Upon the other side Talhand harangued
II- troops and said : " Ye warders of the throne !
That we may be victorious, and the star
Of our good fortune bring forth fruit for us,
Draw, all of ye, your swords, confide in God,
And slay the foe. When ye have ta'en Gav captive
Ye must not kill him or address him harshly,
; like him from yon raging elephant .
And bring him to nic with his hands in bonds."
Thereat the blaring of the clarions
Rose in the court before the royal tent
i t h< neighing of the steeds, the dust
Raised by the chiefs, and whirl of massivv
The hills and streams re-echoed. " Circling heaven
Recoiletli." thou hadst said. At all the shoutings, 1738
And crash of axes, "No one/ then hadst said,
Km-tt In -ad from foot." The MIII withdrew it-
ski
From those bright am.w-heads and eagles' plumes.
Earth seemed a sea of blood \\ IKK heads and hands
4i2 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Were pebbles in its depths. The royal princes
Came from the centre, like huge elephants,
And from them both a shout arose : " Avoid
The wind of my two-headed javelin.
O brother ! be not forward in the fight,
And guard thee from my sword."
Thus shouted they,
Each to the other, while the earth seemed all
A sea of blood, The valiant swordsmen wheeled
About the field, and streams of blood and brains
Ran from the blows of those two warlike princes.
Thus till the sun had left the sky the strife
Surpassed all bounds. Then from the field a shout
Rose, and the voice of Gav cried : " Combatants,
And youthful warriors ! exact not vengeance
On those that would have quarter at our hands.
Know that my brother shrinketh from the fray,
And may abide not, being left unaided."
Then many chiefs asked quarter, many more
Were slaughtered on the field, Talhand's whole host
Was scattered, and the flock was shepherdless,
The shepherd flockless. When Talhand was left
Alone upon his elephant, Gav called
To him and said : "Go to thy palace, brother !
And have regard to that and thine own court.
Good sooth ! thou shalt not suffer in thy person
From 'me or at the hands of this famed host
Of swordsmen. Know that all good is from God,
And give Him thanks so long as life shall last
That thou hast left this battlefield alive. . . .
But 'tis no time for counsel or delay."
Now when Talhand had heard his brother's words
He writhed with shame, his face ran tears, he left
The battlefield for Margh. Troops flocked to him
From every side. He oped his magazines,
And gave supplies. His host was well equipped,
NUSHIRWAN 413
Content, and glad. He gave a robe of honour
To each that in his eyes so merited.
When all the soldiers had received their pay,
And when his warlike heart was freed from dudgeon.
He sent to Gav a message : " Thou that art
To throne as weed t<> L'.-irden ! thou shalt bum
Anon, thy spirit shall be stricken, thine eyes
Sewn up. Thou deem'stthat I can harm thee not .
But girdle not thy heart with self-deceit.'
Gav, when he heard that savage message, washed c. 1739
Affection for his brother from his soul.
Ill- heart was filled with dudgeon, and he said
Thus to his sage : " Behold this monstrous thing ! "
The sage replied : " O king ! upon the throne
Thou art the memory of thy sire, more learned
Than seekers after lore, and mightiest
Of kings. I told my lord the truth, as vouched
••iivlinir sun and shining moon, that till
Eamoufi prince be overthrown, and snake-like
Writhe nn the darksome dust, ne'er will he r<
( )r turn away from strife. In this contention
|K)licy is to affect delay.
Reply not harshly, seek the way for union
And peaee with him. All his endeavouring
bio u-'i-k evil. What is he to do ?
It is God's will. It he shall fight again,
We too will ii'jht . H<- is in haste while we
wait."
King Gav then called the messenger.
Hi-Id talk with him at large with courteousness,
And said to him : "Go to, say to my brother*:—
1 Be not so brutal and so violent .
For \ i<>l< -nee becometh not a king.
Thy sire was noble ; thmi art imhle likewise.
I see t hi- clearly that thou (I <-t
My counsels and alliance, yet am t
414 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUS1
To have thee fair renowned and well disposed.
Now will I show thee all my heart and tell
The matter that my mind is purposing.
Thine evil minister hath sundered thee
From quiet, good advice, and wisdom's way.
Speak not but what is just because the world,
My brother ! is but mockery and wind.
Incline to peace that I may send thee all
The wealth in full and loyal lieges also
Forthwith, and thy misdoubting soul will see
That there is naught but justice in my heart.
May every one be joyful in thy life !
My purpose is according to my words,
If thou, self-willed one ! wilt attend thereto.
Howbeit if thou art intent on war,
And overtures for peace and pact are vain,
I will array my warriors for battle,
And they suffice to occupy a realm.
Let us go forth beyond these peopled lands,
And lead our two hosts onward to the sea.
Dig we a trench about them there to shut
Our warriors in, then fill it with sea-water,
And urge them to the fray, so that the worsted
May not escape by reason of the trench,
C. 1740 While he of us that is victorious
Shall shed not blood upon that straitened spot,
But take the foenien captive. God forbid
That we should use our scimitars and arrows.' '
The envoy went his way and came like wind.
He told Talhand the words of Gav. The prince,
When he had listened to that embassage,
Bade summon to his presence all the men
Of leading in his host and seated them,
Each one in due accordance to his rank,
Repeated to them Gav's response, disclosed
The matter, and thus said : " What are your views
NUSHIRWAN 415
On this new-fangled battle by the sea
Proposed by Gav ? How shall we deal therewith,
And shall we turn his fancy into fact ?
are one with me then not a man
Will draw back for a moment from the fight.
What matt i-r whether it be sea or mountain
When we seek battle in the ranks of war ?
will be my comrades in the strife
i ieopard shall fear not the fox's voice.
All those of us that seek for high renown
Shall win their chief ambition from the world.
The aspirant rather should be slain with fame
Than live to grace the triumph of the foe.
Whoe'er shall hear him stoutly in the fight,
His bearing shall not disadvantage him.
For such shall have of me unstinted wealth
With servants and with steeds caparisoned.
Then from Kashmir down to the sea of Chin
The folk in every state will homage us ;
I \\ ill bestow their cities on my troops
Or ever kingship, crown, and throne are mine."
In answer all the chieftains bowed their faces
Before him till they touched the ground, and said : —
' < Mir ehoiee is fame, and thou, who art our king,
Shalt see a turn of fortum .
Then a shout
Rose from the portal of Talhand, and all
B was astir with troops. He led
hole host toward the sea, the troops of Gav
Appeared on their side, and the two kings lighted,
renting, for they each would be avenged
rp..n tl,. Hound the hosts they du«i
A trench and. when 'twas deep. 1- 1 in the water.
Both arm i. - drew up face to face, and foam
Was on the horsemen - lips. The wings were ranged
To right and Nit. the baggage was bestowed
416 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAVSI
Anigh the sea, and those illustrious kings,
All dudgeon and vindictivencss, then saddled
Two elephants, each at his army's centre
Took up his station, and assumed command.
The earth grew pitch-like, heaven azure-dim
With all the spears and silken bannerets,
C. 1741 While air was ebon with the armies' dust.
What with the trumpet's blare and tymbal's din
Thou wouldst have said : " The sea is all a-boil,
The crocodiles therein call out for blood ! "
While at the thud of battle-ax, of mace,
And sword, a red reek went up from the deep,
And as that veil was drawn athwart the sun
The world's face vanished from the eyes of men.
Thou wouldst have said : " The air is raining
swords,
And planting tulips in the dust ! " The world
Was heaped so with the fallen that the vulture
Durst fly not overhead. Some lay within
The trench, which ran with blood, while other some
Were flung down headless on the field . The sea
Rose with the wind, and still the hosts advanced,
Troop after troop, while all the plain was filled
With livers, brains, and hearts. The horses' hoofs
Were clogged with gory mire. Talhand looked forth
Upon his elephant and saw the earth
O'erflowing like the Nile ; the wind withal
Was in his face, and he had need of meat
And drink, but saw no peace and no escape
From wind and sun and trenchant scimitar,
And, swooning, died upon his golden saddle,
Resigning all the realm of Hind to Gav.
When loss betideth one, whose eyes are set
On gain, how great his passion and regret !
And since both gain and loss must pass away
Enjoy, old sage ! the pleasures of to-day,
NilSHIRWAN 417
For howsoever much may be thy gains
The world's whole treasure is not worth the pains.
Gav looking from the centre failed to spy
The prince's flag, so sent a cavalier
To wheel before the elephants, and search
The foemen's front for miles, to find out whither
Had gone the bright red banner that had shadowed
The horsemen's faces, " for the fight is stayed
Unless mine eyes are blinded by the dust .
The horseman came, looked everywhere but saw
not
The standard of the chief, howbeit he saw
The foemen's centre all confused cries,
And all the horsemen looking for their prince.
Thereat he turned away, came quick as dust,
And told the news to Gav. That general
Alighted from his elephant and went
Two miles afoot and weeping bitterly.
\Vhenas he looked upon the dead Talhand,
And saw the soldiers' faces woebegone,
He keenly scanned the corpse from head to foot,
But saw not any wound on breast or skin.
Then that exalted monarch wailed aloud,
Sat grieved and heavy by the corpse, and said : —
" Alack ! thou youthful warrior ! thou hast gone
Fulfilled with anguish and with wounded soul,
Slain by the process of thine evil star, c. ,742
Else had the cruel blast not smitten thee.
Thou didst reject the counsel of thy teachers,
Hast gone, and darkened is thy mother's heart .
Much did I warn thee in all kindliness,
But yet my counsel could avail thee naught
Now when the sage of Gav arrived and saw
Talhand, the world-aspirant, dead, his broth
Bewailing him on that wide plain with CM
That pierced the sky. he likewise wailed and wallowed
VOL. vn. 2 D
418 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
Before Gav, saying : " Woe for thee, young world -
lord ! "
Addressing then his lips to give advice
He said to Gav : " Exalted king ! what profit
This grief and mourning ? He hath passed away ;
What was to be hath been. Thou mayst thank God
In one regard — that thy hand slew him not.
I told my lord all that would be as vouched
By Mars and Saturn, sun and moon : * This youth
Will bear him so in fight that he will end
His days/ and now his work is as the wind,
And he hath gone through ignorance and haste,
While all this mighty host is full of grief
And anger, and all eyes are fixed on thee.
Content thyself, make us contented too,
And thus contenting do what wisdom would ;
For when the soldiers shall behold their king
Afoot and weeping on the way for grief,
His lustre will be minished in their eyes,
And e'en the basest will wax insolent
Toward him, for the king is like a cup
Filled with rose-water : may the blast not strike him !"
Gav hearkened to that prudent sage's rede.
A proclamation went forth from the host : —
" Ye men of name and warriors of the king !
Let no one tarry on the battlefield,
For yon host is disjoined not now from this ;
Both must be one in act and in acclaim.
Be all 'neath my protection and preserve
For me the memory of my high-souled brother."
Then called he all the chiefs, on his eyelashes
Let fall his own heart's blood, made for Talhand
A narrow coffin out of ivory
And gold, of turquoise and teak- wood, and swathed
His brother's face with glossy silk of Chin.
Thus passed away that famous chief of Hind.
NtJSHIRWAN 419
They sealed the coffin -lid with gums and pitch,
With musk and camphor. Then Gav marched away
In haste and tarried at no stage for long.
The princes' mother slept not, rested not,
And fasted after they had chosen their field
Of battle. Ever on the road she kept
A watch and passed each day in bitterness.
So when the host's dust went up from the road c. 1743
The wakeful watchman saw it from the look-out,
And thence too saw the flag of Gav appear,
While all the realm's face was o'erspread with troops.
He gazed from two miles off in hope to see
The elephant and standard of Talhand,
But failed to recognise them mid the host.
He hurried off a horseman from the look-out
To say : " The army cometh from the mountains,
And Gav is there with all his company,
But I see not Talhand, his elephant,
Or flag, or yet his chiefs with golden boots."
His mother poured down blood, which drenched her
breast,
From her eyelashes. When news came : " That Light
Of empire is bedimmed, the atheling,
Talhand, hath died on saddle-back and left
To Gav his seat upon the throne of kingship,"
She hurried to the palace of Talhand,
And ofttimes dashed her head against its walls.
She rent her raiment, tore her cheeks, flung fire
On hall and treasury, and burnt up all
The palace and the throne of majesty.
Thereafter she upreared a mighty pyre
To burn herself, as is the use of Hind,
And by her sorrow illustrate its Faith.
When tidings of his mother came to Gav
He urged his speedy charger on and came,
Embraced her closely, and entreated her,
420 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
With blood upon his eyelids, saying thus :—
" O loving mother ! hearken to my words,
Because we have transgressed not in this fight.
It was not I or my companions,
Or warrior of this notte host, that slew him.
None durst breathe harshly on him : he was slain
Beneath the process of his evil star."
His mother answered him : " Thou wicked man !
On thee will come high heaven's malison ;
Thy brother hast thou slain for crown and throne,
And no good man will call thee fortunate."
" O loving mother ! " thus he answered her,
" Thou oughtest not to think such ill of me,
But be content and I will tell thee all
The case of king and host and battlefield,
For who would dare to go to fight with him ?
Who ever contemplated such dispute ?
Now by the Judge that fashioned sun and moon,
Night, day, and all the process of the sky,
The signet-ring and throne, the steed and mace,
The sword and crown, shall see me never more
Unless I clear this matter up, and turn
Thy heart from harshness into tenderness,
By proving to thy clear soul that the hand
Of none hath put a period to his life.
What man in all the world can 'scape from death,
Though he be clad upon with steel and helm ?
C. 1744 -^or wnen ^ne bright lamp faileth none may count
Another breath however brave he be.
If what I prove to thee content thee not,
By God, the Lord of all, my purpose is
To burn my body in the fire and gladden
My foemen's souls."
On hearing this, his mother
Had ruth upon his form majestical,
Lest that young hero should consume in fire
NUSHIRWAN 421
His body barely handselled of its soul,
And therefore said to him : " Show me the way
That prince Talhand died on his elephant.
Unless the matter be made clear to me
My fond heart still will burn."
Gav sought his palace
In sorrow, summoned his experienced sage,
Told what had passed and how his mother's words
Had angered him until he swore to burn.
They sat down and took counsel by themselves.
The sage spake thus : " My gracious sovereign !
\\V cannot by ourselves achieve thy wish.
Call we the famed and wise, both old and young,
Among the shrewdest seekers of the way
From every side — Kashmir, Dambar, Margh, Mai."
Gav sent off cavaliers to every quarter,1
Wherever there was any sage of leading.
They all came to the portal of the king,
Came to that famous court. He held a session
Of wise men and of magnates learned and shrewd.
Gav's sage described the battlefield and how
Tin- prince and host had fought. They all conversed
With that sharp-witted man about the sea,
About the trench and letting in the water.
That darksome night not one among them slept,
But all held talk together. When the din
Of kettledrum ascended from the plain
Those men of wisdom called for ebony,
And two of them — ingenious councillors —
Constructed of that wood a board foursquare
To represent the trench and battlefield.
And with both armies drawn up face to face.
A hundred squares were traced upon the board,
So that the kings and soldiers might manoeuvre.
Two hosts were carved of teak and ivory,
1 Reading with P.
422 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And two proud kings with crowns and Grace divine.
Both horse and foot were represented there,
And drawn up in two ranks in war-array,
The steeds, the elephants, the ministers,
And warriors charging at the enemy,
All combating as is the use in war,
One in offence, another in defence.
The king was posted at the army's centre,
With at one hand his loyal minister.
C- 1745 Next to the twain were placed two elephants,
Supporting thrones the hue of indigo.
Next to the elephants two camels stood,
Whereon two men of holy counsel sat.
Next to the camels there were placed two steeds,
With riders valiant on the day of battle,
And each wing ended in a warrior-rukh,
His liver's blood a-foam upon his lips.
The footman's move was always to advance,
That he might be of aidance in the fray,
Till, having passed across the battlefield,
He sat — a minister — beside the king ;
The minister might quit not too in battle
His king by more than by a single square,
While o'er three squares the noble elephant
Could move and for two miles survey the field.
The camel likewise moved three squares and raged
And snorted on the field of fight. The horse
Made too a three squares' move, but in the move
Alighted on a square of diverse hue.
The warrior-rukh might traverse every way,
And charge across the battle at his will.
They all contended in their proper lists,
And each observed the limits of his move.
When one of them beheld the king in fight,
Then would he shout and say : " Avaunt, 0 king ! "
Whereat the king would change his square till he
NUSHIRWAN 423
Was straitened where he stood . When rukh and horse,
And minister and elephant and troops,
Had blocked the way for him on every side
The king would look forth o'er that field foursquare,
And see his men overthrown, their faces lined,
Escape cut off by water and by trench,
With foes to right and left and front and rear,
And being moveless and fordone would die,1
For so the process of the heaven decreed.
King Gav, the great and good, affected much
The game of chess suggested through Talhand ;
His mother studied it. Her heart was filled
Wit h anguish for that prince. Both night and day
She sat possessed by passion and by pain,
With both her eyes intent upon the game.
Her whole desire and purpose centred there ;
Her mind was full of anguish for Talhand.
She kept for ever shedding tears of blood,
With chess to medicine her sufferings,
And thus she fared and neither ate nor stirred
Until her life had reached its period.
So now my tale is done that I heard told
With other stories of the days of old.
§4
How Nushirwdn sent Barzuri, the Leech, to Hindustan to fetch a
wondrous Drug, and how Barzwi brought back the Book oj
Kalila and Dimna
Mark what Shad an, son of Barzin, revealed—
Am. i t ill i hen had been concealed :—
Win -n Nushfrwan was king of kings, and may
His fame endure throughout eternity,
II' sought for sages learned in all i<>n
1 Shah mdt (check mate).
424 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAVSI
To give a greater lustre to his court.
The whole world was beneath his sovereign rule —
The great men and the much experienced chiefs,
The doctors, with the eloquent and brave,
The interpreters, proved leaders, and withal l
A famous chief, the wearer of a crown.
This was Barzwi, the eloquent physician,
An orator and stricken well in years,
A man proficient in each branch of learning,
And for each branch acclaimed throughout the world.
One day Barzwi at, audience-time drew near
The famous king, and said : " 0 Shah, the friend
Of knowledge, apt to seek it and retain !
I scanned with heed an Indian scroll to-day,
And there within 'twas written : ' On the mountains
Of Hind there is a herb like Human silk,
Which if the expert shall collect, prepare
According unto knowledge, and then strew
Upon the body of one dead, the corpse,
Good sooth, forthwith will speak.' Now if the king
Permit I will adventure this hard journey,
And, with much lore to guide me on my way,
Achieve perchance this wondrous enterprise.
'Tis fitting that the dead should come to life
When Nushirwan is monarch of the world."
The Shah made answer : " Hardly this may be,
But ne'er the less the endeavour should be made.
Convey my letter thither to the Raja,
And look upon the attractions of that land.
Seek for a comrade in the enterprise,
As well as wakeful fortune's comradeship.
Thou wilt reveal some wonder to the world,
Because the words are enigmatical.
Bear to the Raja worthy offerings,
For doubtless he must furnish thee with guides."
1 Reading with P.
NUSHIRWAN 425
Then Nushiru an unlocked his treasury,
And of the havings that are fit for kings l —
Dinars, brocade, silks, beaver-skins, and signets,
Crowns, musk, and spicery, with armlets too, C. 1747
h royal jewelry, and torques and earrings —
He had three hundred camel-loads made ready.
The envoy left the presence and, on reaching
The Raja, gave the letter, and unpacked
The bales before him, who, when he had read
The letter of the Shah, said thus : " Good sir !
Hath not my wealth been given by Nushirwan ?
Our persons, troops, and royal treasuries
Are one. 'Twere not strange if the pious world-lord,
By reason of his justice, throne, and Grace,
His splendid fortune and his high achievement,
Should raise the dead. The Brahmans on the moun-
tains
Are all at thy dispose. My minister,
An idol-worshipper of high degree,
My noble treasurer and hoarded wealth,
With Hindustan and all its good and ill,
And all my power o'er great and small, are thine."
They lodged the envoy with magnificence
Hard by the Raja as his rank required,
Providing him with provand, tapestries,
Wit h dainty raiment and with carpetings.
All night the Raja held talk with the priests,
The great men of Kannuj and with the sages,
And wln-n the daylight showed above the hills,
And when tin world-illuming Lamp appeared,
He called the learned physicians and all those
Best qualified by knowledge to advise,
And bade them wait upon the learned Bar/.ui
To hear his statement. All the erudite,
Adept in leechcraft, went to him and, when
1 Reading with P.
426 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
He set forth to the mountains, fared with him.
Barzwi roamed all the mountain -tops afoot,
Companioned by his learned guides, and culled ]
The divers herbs — the dry, the succulent,
The withered, and the flourishing, He brayed
Herbs succulent and dry of every kind,
And spread them on the dead, but none revived (
For any herb, and verily it seemed
That all the virtue had gone out of them.
The company roamed all the heights afoot,
But had no fruit from travail, and Barzwi
Then understood : " This task is for the King
That liveth and that reigneth evermore."
Thoughts of the Shah, of those illustrious chiefs,
And that long journey, moved his heart to shame.
He thought too of the wealth that he had brought,
And was concerned at all his senseless talk.
He was chagrined about the scroll and said :—
" Why did that ignorant and stupid man
Write in his folly and his levity
That which produceth travail and foul words ? "
C. 1748 Thereafter he addressed those sages thus :—
" Ye chiefs experienced and worshipful !
Know ye of one more learned than yourselves,
One eminent in every company ? "
The troop of sages said with one accord : —
" There dwelleth here a very ancient man.1
Surpassing us in wisdom and in years,
And in his knowledge besting every chief."
Thereat Barzwi said to those men of Hind :—
" Ye men of high renown and ardent soul !
Exert yourselves yet more on my behalf,
And point me out the way to him. Perchance
That eloquent old sage may succour me
In this affair."
They led Barzwi to him,
1 Beading with P.
NUSHIRWAN 42?
Full of solicitude, with much to say.
Now when Barzwi. that man of eloquence,
Approached the sage and told all his own toils,
About the writing that he had discovered,
And of the experts' words, the ancient sage
Replied, informing him at large, and said : —
' \Ve in those writings found the selfsame thing,
We too were instant in the same desire.
Now will I tell thee our discovery :
The noble heart must hear to understand.
The herb then is the sage, the mountain know-
ledge,
As being ever distant from the throng ;
The corpse the man whose knowledge is to seek,
Because the unwise are kill-joys everywhere.
In sooth 'tis knowledge that doth make men live ;
Blest is the constant toiler for its sake.
When men are stupefied through ignorance l
Kalila 2 is the herb, and understanding
The mountain. In the monarch's treasury,
On making quest there, thou wilt find a book
Of knowledge that will point thee out the way."
Barzwi, when he had heard, rejoiced thereat,
And all his travail seemed like wind to him.
He blessed the sage and sped back to the king,
Like fire. Arrived he praised the Raja, saying : —
Live thou while Hind shall last. There is a
book.
O potent Raja ! that in Indian
Is called Kalila.3 It is under seal,
And fondly treasured in the monarch's hoards—
A guide-book botli i«. knowledge and to counsel.
Kalila is the herl> in mystic parlance ;
So now, 0 king of Hind ! !><• thou mim- aid,
1 Reading with P.
* Being, like the sage, a teacher of knowledge.
' Reading with P.
428 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And, if I be not troublesome, command
Thy treasurer to hand the book to me."
The Raja's soul was sad at that request,
He writhed upon his throne and answered thus
Barzwi : " No one has sought of us this thing
In times of yore or in these latter days.
However if the world-lord Nushirwan
Shall ask of me my body or my soul
1749 I will withhold not from him aught that is
In being whether high or low ; albeit
Thou shalt peruse it not save in my presence,
That spirits ill-disposed to me may say not
Within their hearts : ' Some one hath copied it.'
So read and learn and mark it every way."
Barzwi made answer thus and said : " O king
Thou hast expressed my whole intent herein."
The Raja's minister then brought Kalila ;
Barzwi perused it with a sage's help,
And, as he read each chapter of the book,
He spent the day in learning it by heart,
For, having read as much as he could learn,
He read no further till the morrow came,
But, writing to the monarch of the world,
Sent privily a chapter of Kalila.
The Indians' book by this expedient
Was introduced to royal Nushirwan,
What while Barzwi continued hale and happy,
By laving thus his ardent soul in knowledge,
Until the answer to his letters came : —
" The Sea of Lore hath come to hand for us."
Then from his palace he approached the Raja
To ask for leave to go. At that request '
The Raja graciously entreated him,
And had prepared an Indian robe of honour —
Two valuable armlets and two earrings,
A torque of jewels worthy of a king,
NUSHIRWAN 429
An Indian turban and an Indian sword,
Whereof the blade was watered steel. Barz\\ i
Came from Kannuj, rejoicing, having gained
Much knowledge there. On his return to court
He went before the Shah and did obeisance,
Then told about his converse with the Raja,
How knowledge had been found instead of herbs.
The Shah replied : " O man approved in all !
Kalila hath restored my soul to life.
Take from my treasurer my treasury's key,
And make thy choice according to thy needs."
So to the treasury the sage departed,
But gave small trouble to the treasurer.1
re drachms and jewels lay to left and right,
And yet he chose him but a royal robe,
Put on that costly raiment and went forth
Back to the court of Nushirwan in haste.
When he approached the throne he did obeisance,
And praised the king, who said : " O man of toils !
Why hast thou left the treasury and brought
No purses with thee and no royal gems,
For treasure is the meed of them that travail ? ' '
Barzwi replied : "0 thou whose crown is higher
Than sun and moon ! the wearer of king's
raiment
Hath access to the crown and throne of might,
And furthermore, when people shall behold C. 1750
Mine own unworthy self in royal robes,
My toes' hearts will be strait and overcast .
My friends' cheeks keep their lustre and th<
bloom.
St ill there is somewhat I would ask the king
That I may leave my memory in t he world-
Let Biizurjmihr, when copying the book,
Show favour to Barzwf's endeavour™
1 Reading witi
430 THE SHAHNAMA OF FIRDAUSI
And give account of me in Chapter One,
By order of the conquering king, that so,
When I am dead, my travailing may be
Forgot not by the sages in the world."
" A great thing this to ask ! " the Shah replied,
" And one beyond the licence of a liege,
And yet thy labour hath deserved as much,
Although thy standing warranteth it not."
Then said the Shah to Biizurjmihr : " This wish
Of his is not to be ignored."
So when
The fashioning of pen from kex was done
The scribe wrote of Barzwi in Chapter One.
As for the royal book which thus was writ
'Twas in the script of bygone centuries ;
Among the royal hoards men treasured it,
But 'twas beheld not by unworthy eyes.
It was perused not, till the people took
To Arabic, save in the ancient tongue ;
But when Mamun had made earth fresh and young
He dealt in other fashion with the book,
For he had clerkly lore, was politic
In kingly wise, and learned in every way.
'Twas then translated into Arabic,
Just as thou mayest hear it read to-day.
In Arabic, till Nasr was king, it stayed ;
Then noble Abii'l Fazl, his minister
And, in respect to lore, his treasurer,
Gave orders, which were readily obeyed,1
For folk to speak in Persian and Dari.2
Thereafter precedent and policy
Conducted Nasr in wisdom's way when he
Was fain by whatsoever means might be
To leave within the world his memory.
1 " mais son pouvoir fut de courte duree " (Mohl).
2 The more ornate Persian used at court.
NUSHIRWAN 431
They held a session with interpreters,
Who read the whole book out to Rudagi.1
That poet linked the scattered words in verse,
And threaded * thus those pregnant pearls, that he
Who is a scholar might new graces find,
And one unlearned more facility,
For words in prose escape us, but combined
In metric guise possess the brain and mind.
Life to Mahmud, the world's great potentate !
May earth and time as slaves before him wait,
How it would joy the heart if but the bad
From Shah Mahmud less free allowance had !
Yet be not thou concerned thereat. Anon,
Since life is far advanced, thou must be gone.
Thou hast thine ups and downs from day to day, c. 1751
u hiles assistance and at whiles dismay ;
But neither of them will for aye remain
With thee ; the hope of tarriance here is vain.
1 Rtidakf in the original. • Literally " pierced."
INDEX
This Index and the Table of Content* at the beginning of the volume are
complementary. Reference* to the latter are in Roman numerals,
Annvi, place on the Oxus, 91 and
i«>te, 331, 357, 359
Anestres Castri = Nushinvan,
383
Anttkiyn (Antioch). city on the
Oroute*, xi, 218
taken by Nushinv.in, 218, 258
*eq.
"•h. See Antukiya.
, 218, 259
Apothegms, 17, 18, 42, 270, 277,
296, 301. 403
Apprentice, a merchant's, enter-
tains, and finds favour
with, Bahram Gur, 40 seq.
Arab, Arabs, 10, 107, 201, 218,
244, 245, 247
sage, quoted, 277
Arabian Night*, The, 3, 317
provenance of, 3
Arabic, 381
Fables of Jlidpai (Kalila and
Dimna) translated into,
382, 430
Aragan (Rainkuh.-id . town, 188
Ardyish-i-Rum (Hi.-r.-ipoli-
west of tli<> F. u ph rates and
north of Alrppo, 217, 218,
254, 255
. takrn - rfn, 255
Al.l. il;iy, 112
Ardaliil, city in A/arbaijAn, 89,
ABBin \ [ATIOXB, li>t of, xvi
Ab6'l Fazl, minister nndt-r the
Sftmanida and father of
the Persian translator of
Tabari, 383, 430
patron of Kn.la-i, 383
Achshunwar. See Akhshunwar.
Afrasiyiib, ruler of Tiintn, 330,
334. 335. 337, 359
the Khdn of Chin descended
from, 334
Ahmad, son of Ismail, Samanid,
383
Ahriman, the Kvil Principle, 89,
233,265,271,290,312,323,
354. 359, 366, 367, 369
Ahwa/, rity in Khu/i-tan (Susi-
ana), 197, 198, 201, 214,
224
Akhshnmvar (Aclishunwar), Hai-
i&\ 160
- (Alani), ; . 216
:n_'s \\ith,
2 1 6, 239*^.
Albui 177
ui-Beroea
218
Alexai <; real, 383
irbekr), city on tin:
upprr '1'i^iis 187
Amul, rity in Ma/ S9,
237
433
163, 224
•2 I
434
INDEX
Arclshir, high priest temp. Piruz,
179^9-
released by Khushnawaz, 180
Ardshir, high priest temp. Nushir-
van, 304, 333, 337, 342
discourse of, 305
questions Buznrjniihr, 308
Ardshir K hurra (Khurra-i-Ard-
shir), city, now Firuzitbad,
and district in Farsistan,
206
Ardshir Papakdn, Shdh, 79, 185,
212
his failure to conquer Balxi-
chist.in, 242
the invention of nard attri-
buted to, 382
Arish, Franian archer, 234 and note
Arjdsp, king of Tunin, 330, 334,
335, 337, 359
the Khdn of Chin descended
from, 334
Arman, Armenia, or a district in
A.zarbdija'n, 263
Armenia, 153, 224
Roman, 187
Arsacid, Arsacids, 156, 185, 212
Artang, Mdni's house, 355 and
note
Arzhang. See Artang.
Arzu, daughter of Mdhiydr, 59
referred to, 55, 59
sings to Bahrain Gur, 60
asked in marriage by, and
married to, Bahrdm Gur,
6 1 seq.
meaning of, 65 note
Ashemaogha, 188
Astrologer, astrologers, 144
foretell Bahrain Gur's term
of life, 144
birth of Hurmuzd, 354
death of Talhand, 408, 413,
418
Athens, city, 280
schools of, closed by Justi-
nian, 280
Azild Sarv, archimage, 283
goes to Marv, 283
discovers Buzurjmihr, 283
returns with Buzurjmihr to
court, 283
Azar= Azargashasp, q.v.
Azar Abadagiin, Fire-temple at
Sln'z, 86, 224, 362
visited by Bahrain Gur, 86,
94
visited by Nusliirw&n, 250
Azarbaijan, 160, 214
Azargasliasp, spirit of the light-
ning, 21, 79, 232
fire-temple at Shiz, 89, 317,
365
visited by Bahrain Giir,
86, 139
high priest of, converts
Sapinud to Zoroastri-
anisni, 139
visited by Niishirwan,
363
B
BABAK, muster-master of Nushir-
wdn, x, 230
bidden to enroll the ho^t, 230
insists on Nushirwan's at-
tendance for enrolment,
231
asks pardon of the Shah, 232
Babar, Emperor, on wine-d rink-
ing, 75 note
Bddan Piruz (Shahram -Piruz),
city built by Piruz in Azar-
baijan, ix, 160, 163
Baghdad, city, viii, 83 and note
Bahman, Franian magnate, 312
Bahman, month and day, 31 and
note
Bahman Yasht, Pahlavi Text, 188
Bahrdm, son of Piruz, Franian
warrior, 85
Bahrain, Franian chief, 251, 262
Bahrdm, genius, 406 and note
INDEX
435
Bahrain Gur, Shah ( Varahran V),
vii seq. 3 $eq., 1 60, 164,
165, 170 and note, 174, 178,
187. 334, 359
Reign of, 3 seq.
on, 3 8tq.
length of, 3
largely legendary, 3
character of, 3
resembles James
• ; land, 3
ministers
his war with Ruin, 4, 5
adventures of, vii seq., 4,
1 2 *e q.
hi- historical defeat of the
iiuns 4, 5
hi- alleged re«luction of taxa-
tion in eou-e<jueiice, 5
accession of, 7
holds his court for eight
\s, 7 seq.
summons Jawanwi, 8
holds three days' festivities,
10
reward- Nu'm.in and Munzir,
10
honours Khusrau, 10
makes Narsi captain of the
host, n
burns the registers of taxes,
n
applauded by the folk, 1 1
restores the nobles exiled by
hit father to their honours,
ii
makes proclamation to tin-
people, 12, 79, 82
inking, 23
allows wine-drinking again,
25
47, 54.63, 64 :
his equipage for the chase,
48,76
loses and find* his tughral,
49.50
In 'Urzin, 49 •>
Balaam Giir, marries Barzin's
daughters, 53
hunting-feats of, 54, 55, 77,
80,81
visit- a jeweller, 56 seq.
his course of life bewailed by
Kuzbih, 56
his many wives, 56
asks and obtains Arzu in
marriage, 6l seq.
his visit to Farshfdward,
6Sseq.
goes hunting, 76 seq.
forbids all plundering, 79
ear-marks and brands ona-
gers, 8 1
remits the tribute of Barkuh.
and Jaz, 82
s BagluUd, 83
holds revel at Baghdad, 83
goes to Istakhr, 83, 95
reproaches Kuzbih for parsi-
mony, 83
reported to be given up to
]>h \-i-nre, 84
reproached by his chiefs, 84
his -ecret jtrejiarationsagainst
the Khan, 85
sniniimns hi- chiefs, 85
levies a host, 86
makes N t , 86
goes to Azar AbaMagtin, 86,
94
his maich to Marv against
the Khan, 89
defeats the Khun at Ka*hm -
haii, 90, 170 note
n I'.uUh.ir.i, 90
Ivinans, 91
grants j>cace to the Turkmans,
9i
his boundary-pillar, 92, 160,
161, 164
makes Shahra ruler of 1'uran,
92
makes gifts of treasure, 95,
96
436
INDEX
Bahrain Gur, deposits the Khan's
crown in a Fire- temple, 95
goes to Taisafun, 95
welcomed by Narsi and the
chiefs, 96
remits taxes for seven years,
97
happiness of the world under,
99
bestows Khuriisdn on Narsi,
99
inquires about Caesar's en-
voy, 100
gives audience to Caesar's
envoy, 101
Caesar's questions to, 102
his parting gifts to Caesar's
envoy, 106
addresses the archmages,
1 06
a wazir complains of Shangul
to, 109
writes to Shangul, no
his visit to Hind, 5, 112
seq.
motive of, 5
fabulous, 6
bears his own letter to Hind,
112
his audience with Shangul,
112
entertained by Shangul, 116
wrestles before Shangul, 1 1 7
displays his marksmanship
before Shangul, 118
calls himself Barzwi, 121
slays monsters, 121 seq.
offered a daughter and great
advancement by Shangul,
127
takes to wife one of Shangul's
daughters, 128
receives an invitation from
Faghfur, 129
his reply, 130
tells Sapinud of his wish to
quit Hind, 131
Bahrain Giir, meets some Truman
merchants and pledges
them to secrecy, 133
feigns sickness, 134
escapes with Sapinud, 134
reproached by Shangul, 135
makes aleague with Shangul,
137
his welcome on his return,
137
addresses the nobles, 138
praised by the nobles, 139
makes a new treaty with
Shangul, 140
entertains Shangul and seven
other kings, 140 seq.
appointed Shangul1 s heir, 143
his parting gifts to Shangul,
144
takes account of his treasures,
144
his term of life foretold by
the astrologers, 144
resolves to levy no more
taxes, 145
his unsuccessful attempts to
benefit his subjects, 146 seq.
his introduction of the Gipsies
into fran, 6, 149
appoints Yazdagird his suc-
cessor, 150
death of, 6, 1 50
Firdausi's reflections on, 150
mourning for, 151
Baigand (Kuhandizh, Kunduz),
a citv in Afghan Turkistan,
176 "
Bakhtagan, the father of Buzurj-
mihr, 279
Bal'ami, compiler of the Persian
Tabari, 5
Balas (Balash), Sdsslnian king, 170
Balash (Balas), Sha"h, ix, 169 seq.
appointed regent by Piniz,
164
hears of the overthrow of
Piriiz, 169
INDEX
437
Balash, Reign of, 170 scq.
Note on, 170
character «»f. 171
introduces public baths, 171
end of, 171
title of, 171
accession of. 171
Suf 173
welcomes Sufarai on h
turn from Turan, 181
dethroned, 182
Balkh, city, 94, 331, 359, 384
Baluch (Baluchistan), x, 242, 340,
362
Ivan's ill success
with, 242
Baliichis, people, 217
-iiirw;iii ami the, 217, 24!
seq.
B .tin.lut, father of Mazdak, 188
Bandwi, Truman chief, 207
Banquets, the seven, of Nushir-
. 280
possible origin of, 280
Barahdm, a Jew, vii, 13
entertains Bahr.iin (lur scur-
vily, 16 *(q.
hi- gOOdl -I, 20
i country (British
•.laliland), 327
Barda', city on the borders of
Azarbdijan and Armenia,
Barkrih, city in Persian "Irak,
79, 80, 82
tiibutr «.f. remitted, 82
Barzin, franian noble, viii, $O3cq.
ited by Bat r 49
and his daughters entertain
o seq.
gives hisdaughters to Bahrdm
. ti marriage, 53
Barzin, bower of, 83
Barzr i, 86
Bar/i of Ustrfd, 251
Barzin, father of Shadan, 382,
423
Barzwi, nonce-name assumed by
Bahrain Gur, 121, 134
Barzwi, franian sage, xiii, 382,
383. 424*^.
introduces into Persia, and
translates, the Fables of
Bidpai, 382
goes on a mission to Hind.
4^4
consults a sage, 427
hears of the book of Kalila
and Dinma, 427
transcribes and sends it to
Nii>hirwan. 428
returns to Nusliiiwan and
asks a boon, 429
BasWm, city, 357
Bdstdii-ndma, 382
H.iths. public, introduction of,
by Balash, 171
Belisarins, Konian .ireneral, 186,
187, 217, 218
Berozias = Barzwi, 383
Bidpai, Indian sage, 213, 382,
383
introduction of his Fables
(Book of Kalila and
Dimna) into Persia, xiii
213, 382
Bihbihan, town, 188
Bihniz, a scribe, 72
i 1'nlnian chief, 85
Bihzad, fninian noble. 207
Bisa, city, 89
Bishop. hzad's last
icsts, 275
P.i-tiui. inoiiiitain, 6l, 363
Boundary-pillar. Bahrain Giir's,
92, 160, 161, 164
Brahman, 42 5
nibhrr, a. See DUA-
BniJiar.i. nty. 90, 94, 33!, 348,
359. 384
Mk.m. 8* H.rJitagan
Hull, mythological. 245
438
INDEX
Buraza, father of Mihr Narsi, 4 -
Burrus, Pnetorian prefect, 279
Burzmihr, I'ranian warrior, 86
bears Xarsi's letter to Bahrain
Giir, 94
Bust, fortress and district in
Sistsin, 173, 395
Buzurjmihr, counsellor of Nii-
shirwa'n, xi seq , 5, 278 seq.
associated with the Persian
Wisdom-literature, 278
a semi- mythical personage,
280
found by Azrid Sarv at Marv,
283
undertakes to interpret Nii-
shirwdn's dream, 283
goes with Azad Sarv to
court, 283
his adventure with a snake,
284
iuterpretsNushinva"n'sdream,
284
rewarded and honoured by
Niishirwan, 286, 289, 304,
311, 315,388
his accomplishments, 286
his discourses at the Seven
Banquets of Nushirwan,
287 seq.
on fate and fortune, 291
on the attainment of great-
ness, 291, 296
on what is worthiest, 291
on sages, 288, 291, 292, 294,
296 seq., 309
on fools, 297, 298, 306
on conduct, 288, 291 seq.,
299, 309
on kings, 290, 294, 295, 301,
312
on the wise administrator,
294
on sons, 295, 303, 311
on riches and poverty, 295
questioned by Ardshir and
Yazdagird, 308
Buzurjmihr, on scribes, 311
on loyalty, 312
a discourse of, 366
questioned by Nushiiwan,
367 acq.
expounds the game of chess,
380, 388
invents the game of nard,
381, 389
welcomed on his return from
Hind by Nushirwan, 393
Byzantine title, 218
CJESAR, viii, xi, 5, 100, 163, 244
seq., 258 seq., 269, 273
his embassage to Bah ram
Giir, 5, 100
marches on I'ran, 84
propounds questions to Bah-
rdm Giir, 102
his envoy questioned by the
high priest, 104
his reply to Niishirwdn con-
cerning Munzir, 245
his treasures taken by Nii-
Blifrwdn, 255, 258
sues to Ni'ishinvan for peace,
261
sends tribute to NiishinvJn,
362
Callinicus. See Kaliniyiis.
Camel, piece in chess, 422
position of, 422
move of, 422
Cancer, constellation, 257
Castle of Oblivion, 184
Caucasus, 153, 214, 217
passes in, fortified, 153, 187,
216, 239
Mas'iidi's account of, 215
Chach (Tiishkand), city in Tiinin,
167, 329. 334, 340, 343,
348, 358, 359
INDEX
439
Chach, daughter of governor of,
285
her intrigue. 285
put to death, 286
Chaghan, place or rity in !
94, 157, 3>3. 359
ced- i to the
H ' M>, 198
monarch of = I b, 333
Chalybon-Beroea (Aleppo), 218
Champion*, The twelve, 156
Characteristics of a Happ
Pahlavi text, 279
Charjui, plaee on the Oxus, 91
Chase, the, equipage for, 48,
76
Chess, game of, xiii, 5, 14 and
note, 280, 385 seq.
Note on, 380
sent by the Kaja of Hind
5. 380, 384
teq.
expounded by liuzurjinihr,
380,388
symbolism of, 381
two forms of, 381, 388, 422
M-es in the powers of the
pieces in, 381
Mas'udi on, 382
invention of, Story of the, 394
Chess-board, 14, 385, 388
Chess-men, 14, 380, 388
(Inn, country (often = Tun(n),
i*. 33. 37. 78, 80, 84,
90 and patfim
•<cc Khan,
rarities of, 49
h "f. 73, 92, 347, 364, 4l8
ware of, 78
',87
brocade of, 329, 353, 355
sea of, 343
Rose of = da the
> note
Chosrau, Chosroes I (Kisra Ndsh-
iiwaii), Sdsanian king, 212,
281
Chri-t, 207, 249, 264, 270, 273,
274. 276
Chri-tian. Christians, 153, 171,
254, 270, 276
persecution of, 153
iausi's view of, 219
wife of Nushitwm. \i, 263,
274
mother of Ntishzad, 263
helj i in hi- re-
volt, 266
laments for Niishzad,
276
support Nuahzdd, 266, 272
Chri>tianity, polemics a_-ainM.
219, 270, 273
Colic, cure for, 39
Commons. Kin- "f the, 3
Communists (Mazdakites), 185
Constantinople, 316
Contents, Table of, \ii
Cordwainer, the Raman, and
Ndshirwdn, 260
Com-land, taxes on, 215
Cross, the, 249, 270, 276
I r.uiian warrior, 86
irj, 6
Danibar, rity in Hind, 396, 399,
421
Darab, shah, 215
Darband. t«-wn and pa>s 1>
the Cjuu-asus and the Cas-
pian, 213, 215
M ' unt of the for-
itioiiH at, 215
Dari, 430 and note
Date-palms, taxes on, 215, 225
DtwafMirm, king of Hind, 380,
38l
sends the game of chess to
Ndshirwan, 380
440
INDEX
Dice (used in the game of nard),
389
Diliifniz, a bramble-grubber, viii,
70 seq.
employed by Balmlm Gur,
70 scq.
Dilam, city in GihCn, 243, 244,
362 and note
Dilaman. See Dilam.
Dinina, Kalila and. See Fables
of Bidpai.
Dina-i Main6g-i Khirarf, Pahlavi
text, 279
quoted, 279
Dinawari, historian, 6, 156, 186,
214
Di'v (Daeva), demon, 115, 154,
174, 368 seq.
= Ahriman, 93, 107, 109, 117,
143, 154, 206, 227, 268, 289,
303, 304, 323. 332. 368 seq.,
376, 390
Mazdak's live, 205
Biizurjmihr's ten, 368
Doni, The Morall Philosophic of,
383
Dragon, vii, ix
slain by Bahrdm Giir, 42, 123
seq.
described, 43, 123
Dreams, Firdausi on, 281
Drought, 159, 20 1
measures to alleviate, 159,
162
breaking of, described, 163
Mazdak's parable concerning,
201
E
ECLIPSE of sun, total, 159
Elephant, piece in chess, 385, 422,
423
position of, 388, 422
move of, 422
Endless peace, the, 217
Esdras, 207, 264
Euphrates, river, 217
FABLES of Bidpai (Book of Ka-
lila and Dimna), xiii, 213,
427 seq.
introduction of, into Persia,
213, 382
translations of, 382, 383
Firdausi's account of,
43°
vogue of, 383
origin of, 383
NushirwaVs acquisition of,
423 seq.
Faghamsh (I), king of the Hai-
talians, 157
helps Piriiz for a considera-
tion, 157
(II), xii, 350
made king instead of Ghiit-
kar, 333
Nushirwau takes counsel
about, 333
his descent from Bahrain
Gur, 334
Nushinvan writes to, 337
makes submission to Ntishir-
•\viin, 360
Faghfur, the dynastic title of the
princes of Chin and Ma-
chin, ix, 115, 129, 340, 343,
408
his daughter the wife of
Shangul, 115
hears of Bahrain (iur's ex-
ploits in Hind, 129
invites Bahrdm Giir to visit
him, 129
Bahram Gur's reply to, 130
Failakus, Philip II of Macedon,
215
Falatun (Plato), 100
Falconry, 48 seq.
IXDEX
441
Farab, city and desert, 91, 92
M, I'ranian chief, 207
Faniitak, daughter of Jiarzin, 53
married to Bahrain <
Farfumu-, Knuian general, xi,
218
defeated by Niishirwan, 256
makes report to Caesar, 260
n general, 251
commands Nushirwau's left
wteg, 251
Faridun, Shah, 37, 38, 60, 62, 73,
79, 101, 120, 199, 207,
apital, 215, 238
Farikm Mai\ -.ifarikint, city in
Mesopotamia, 200
taken by Kuhad, 200
Farshidaard, a miser, viii, 67
Mf.
visits, 68 seg.
hi- miserly habits, 68 seq.
hi- wraith described, 70, 72,
73
Farwardin, month and day,
163
Firdausi, 3, 4, 6, 153, 156, 159,
185, 186, 188, 213, 214, 217
wy-.S1?! 38o teq.
bewails his mi>furtniies, 152
; mity,
219 and note
bewails the advent of old age,
220
and Persian Wisdom-litera-
ture, 278
on dreams, 281
hi- authorities for chess, 380
1'i-h. mythological, 341 and note,
406
Footman (pawn), piece in chess,
385, 388, 422
position of, 388
move of, 422
pr«i- 422
l-'uiij, leader of t - host,
330
•<>rus), 395
0
itiMART, Shah, 53
rites of, 53
Faith of, 273
Garib, surface-measure, 215 and
note
Garshasp, tranian general, 251
put in charge of N»i-h:r\vaif s
baggage- 1 1 ai ii, 251
Gav, K ud, xiii, 395 seq.
mother of, 395 seq.
her two in >95, 396
her two sons, 395, 396
becomes queen, 397
tries to keep peace between
her sons, 397 teq.
hears of the death of
Talhand, 419
reproaches Gav, 420
chess invented to appease,
421
death of, 423
birth of, 395
tutor of, 397, 398, 401, 402,
407,408, 410, 413, 417, 421
rivalry between Talhand and,
397 *«?.
war l.otwern Talhand and,
404 seq.
his attempt* at ac.-ommoda-
lion with Talhand, 405,
408, 413
defeats Talhand, 412
proposes a decisive battle to
Talhand, 414
>ry of, 416
invents chess to console his
iiKithor for tin- death of
Talhand, 421
<;< rmanus, 218
Gharchis, Georgians, 94
(ih.Kkar, rulorof the Haitalians
334, 335
hears of, and
: i 's embassy to Nuahir-
33<>
442
INDEX
Ghiitkar, prepares to oppose the
Khan, 330
defeated, 332
Ghaznin, city in Kabulistan, 173
Gil, Gilan, region on the south-
western shores of the
Caspian, x, 216, 224, 340,
362
Ntishirwan's dealings with,
216, 242 seq.
captives from, settled at
Bureau, 328
Gipsies, the, ix, 6
their introduction into Fran, 6
Noldeke on, 6
their language, 6
brought into Tran by Bahrain
Giir, 149
Glory. See Grace.
Good Thoughts, Words, and
Deeds, 317, 318
symbolised in the game of
nard, 381
Grace, or Glory, the divine, 9, 23,
31' 3$> 53, find passim
Grapes, bunch of, Story of the,
183 note
Greek, Greeks, 280
philosophers, entertained by
Niishirwan, 280
Gulgiin, Bahrain Giir's steed, 57
Gulzaryiin, river (the Jaxartes ?),
329, 340, 360
Gund-i-Shapiir, city, 219, 276
Nushzad imprisoned at, 264
and note
Giir, nickname of Bahrain, son of
Yazdagird, 6
Noldeke on, 6
Gurgdn, city and region in eastern
Mazandaran, xii, 89, 237,
337, 338, 357, 358, 361
Gushasp, nonce-name assumed by '
Bah ram Giir, 59 seq.
Gushasp, the chief scribe, n
bidden to remit the arrears
of taxes, 1 1
Gushtasp, Shah, 254, 359
his sojourn at Shiirdb, 254
Gustaham, Bahrain Giir's com-
mander-in-chief, 85
H
HAITAL, Haitians (White
Huns), x, xii, 4, 6, 153,
161, 164, 171, 174, 181, 187,
197, 330 *eq., 340, 342, 390
confused with the Turks, 4
Bah ram Gur's defeat of, 4
help Piruz, 156, 157
Piruz's expedition against,
159, 164 seq.
tradition of, 160
king, 1 60, 184
helps Kubad, 198
Kubad's flight to, 170, 184,
198
the alliance of Nushinvdn
with the Khdn against, 317
war of the Khan with, 328 seq.
destroy the Khdn's embassy
to Nushirwdn, 330
host of, levied to oppose the
Khan, 331
defeated, 332
decide to seek help of Niishir-
wdn, 332
make Fagliduish king, 333
Niishirwdn takes counsel
about, 333, 334
make submission to Nushir-
wdn, 360
Hamadan, city, 6
Harith bin Jabala, prince of the
Ghassanians, 217
protected by Justinian, 217
his war with Munzir, 217
Hauz, 50 and note
Hawking. See Falconry.
Heroes, Vale of, 6
Hierapolis (Ardyish-i-Rum), city,
217, 218
INDEX
443
Hind, Hindustan, viii, ix, xiii,
5, 84, no teq., 114 s<q.t
Raja of. See Raja.
Bahrain Giir's visit to, 5
IIOMf,
motive of, 5
fabulous, 6
lim-d by Bah- ;
i (iiir, 140 seq.
= Shangul, 113, 119, 126,
128
air wan goes to, 241
Hindiya, city of Rum, 200
taki-n l,y K u bad, 200
Hindustani, langua.-
-y a corruption of, 6
Hira, city in western Irak, 217
Horse (steed, knight), piece in
chess, 385, 422, 423
position of, 388, 422
move of, 422
Hulu city, 187, 201
II iimai, fninian chief, 87, 88
goes as envoy to the Khrfn.
87
Hun<. the, 153
White. See Haitalians.
r of Bihruz, 72
Hurni: ,,f r.aliram
Hunn isdas), Sh/ih, ix,
153. 186
appointed by Yazdagird to
succeed him, 155
Reign of, 156
Note on, 156
157
his pardon by Ptruz, 156, 158
leads the van i:.
.man-, (Hai-
Ulians), 164
perishes in battle, 168
', 188
•ssista Ndshirwan in hi-
di.-] iti. Mazdak,
188,206
Hurmuzd, franian general, 251
commands the outposts in
Nushfnvan's army, 251
Hurmuzd, Shah, 279
son of the Khan's daughter,
317
sent a-ain>t the Turks, 317
Hushang, Shdh, 37, 273
rites of, 53
I UN Mukaffa, 161
tran.-lates tl«e Fables of
Hidpai (the Book of Kahla
and Dimna) into Arabic,
383
Imeritia, 215
Indian, Indians, 118, 135, 146
kin;; of-Sliangul, 118
tongue, 117, 143
Indus, river, 241
fraj, sou of Fa rid tin. 73
'Inik (Babylonia), 214, 224
Irarn, 235 and note
Iran, viii seq., 5, u, 12, and
passim
Rum's tribute to, explained,
187
franian. I'laiiian-. vii, ix, x, 7, '
13, 89, IIO, 122, 130, 151,
160, 171, 198, 224
ask Munzir to intercede
with r.ahr..m i;.-r f..r
them, 9
their arrears of taxes can
celled. 1 1
levied by Bai . 86
resolve to Mii.mit to the
ta, 87
send Humai as envoy t.-
Kh.m, 87
. 87
ask for Narsfa goo<l offices
93
lament for the deatl
I'm./, 169
444
INDEX
Irdnians, revolt against Kubdd,
J95
make Jamasp Shall, 195
put Kubdd in fetters, 195
ask pardon of Kubad, 200
pardoned by Kubdd, 200
Isdigerd II (Yazdagird, son of
Bahrdm Grir), Sdsdnian
king, 153
Ispahdn, city, 6, 84, 214, 224
Istakhr (Persepolis), viii, 83, 95,
188
Italy, 218
JAHRAM (Chahram),city in Pdrs,
185
Jam, son of Kubdd, 316
conspires against Niishinvdn,
316
Jdmdsp, son of Piruz, x, 184
supersedes Kubdd temporar-
ily, 184, 195
title of, 1 86
fate of, 1 86, 200
James V, of Scotland, 3
Bahrdm Gur's resemblance
to, 3
Jamhur, king of Hind, 395, 396,
398,399,401,403
Jamshid, Shall, vii, 36 seq., 107,
162, 173, 211
treasure of, found by Bali-
ram Giir, 36
described, 36
Jandal, city in Hind, 140
monarch of, entertained by
Bahrdm Gur, 140 seq.
Jatakas, 383
Jats, Indian people, 6
fabulous origin of, 6
Jawdnwi, franian magnate and
minister of Bahram Giir,
8, 10, ii
bidden to remit the arrears
of taxes, 1 1
Jaz, Mesopotamia, 76, 79, 80, 82
tribute of, remitted, 82
Jew, Jews, vii, xii, 13, 273
Bahrdm Gur's adventure
with a, 16 seq.
persecution of, 153
Ziirdu's plot with a, against
Mahbiid, 320 seq.
bewitches Nushirwdn's food,
321
makes confession to Niishir-
wan, 325
and the Fables of Bidpai,
383
Jeweller, a. See Mahiyar,
Jihun, river (the Oxus), 92, 165,
1 66, 1 80, 329, 338, 340
Jupiter, planet, 49, 248, 357
Justin I, Emperor, 316
Justin II, Emperor, 212
Justinian, Emperor, 212, 219, 317
his bargains with Nushir-
wan, 214, 216 seq.
his protection of Hdrith bin
Jabala, 217
leads to war with Nu-
shirwan, 217
his successes in the West,
217
and the school of Athens,
280
K
KABUL, Kdbulistdn, 140, 173
monarch of, entertained by
Bahrdm Gur, 140 seq.
\ Kdchtir Bashi, city in Turdn, 330,
358
Kai Kaus, Shah, 74, 107, 115
Kai Khusrau, Shdh, 120, 173,359
j Kai Kubdd, Shdh, 37, 74, 115,
120, 173
Kaiwdn, frdnian statistician, 1 1
calculates the arrears of
taxes, ii
INDEX
445
Kalila and Diinna, Book of. See
Fables of Biilpai.
Kaliiiiyiis (Callinicus), city, xi,
218
taken by Nu>lnr\van, 218,
257
Kami-: See Gund-i-Sha-
pur.
Kannuj, city in India, 112, 115,
119, 123, 128, 129, 134, 137,
385. 3»6, 390, 393. 425
river of, 112 and note, 390
monarch of =Shanj;ul. 140
Bahrain Gur appointed heir
to, 143
Karan, r rani an family and war-
S6, 90, 171, 185
glorification ,»f, 170
origin of, 185
rivalry of, with Mihran, 185
Karnamak. I'ahlavi text, 380
Kasha n, city and region in
•'• 331, 334
Kashmihan, place near Marv, 89,
90
Bahrain Giir's victory at,
90
Srifarai's victory at, 170 note,
176
Kashmir, 140, 395, 396, 421
monarch of, 140 teq.
entertained by Bain am
, 140 teq.
Kaiis, Shah. &eKai Kaiis.
Kaus, sonof Kubdd, 316
Kawa, th«- >mith, 185
flag of, 250
Khalaj, a Turkman horde, or city,
92
Khan of Chin, viii, xii .eq.. 49,
9«. 93. 97, ioi, in, 186,
328 teq.
i war with Bahrain
=-.5
ades frdn, 84
responds graciously to the '
rr.uiian.H'rmba^
Kh;in of Chin, gives himself up to
pleasure at Marv, 88
defeated and taken prisoner
by Bahrdrn Gur, 90
his crown placed in a Fire-
tonipli*, 95
his son Khiishnawaz, 165
his daughter's marriage to
Nvishirwan, 213, 357
historically ruler of the
Turks, 317
his relations with Niishir-
wan, 317
the Haitalians, 317, 328
seq.
his embassy to Niishfrwan,
329
hears of the destruction of
his embassy by the Hai-
talians, 330
leads forth his troops, 330
defeats the Haitalians, 332
-1 n'rwaii takes counsel
about, 333, 334
his descent from Afra«.iyab
and Arjtisp, 334
Niishinvan writes to, 337
purposes to invade Tnin, 337
hears of Nushirwan's ad-
vance, 338
takes counsel, 338
sends embassy to Nu-lm \\ an,
339
In- n> his envoy's accor,
Nn-liiMv.in, 344
offers to make affinity with
Nushirw/m. 345
nipt- to outuit Nn-lur-
351
give- audit-lire to Mihr.in
I. 351
invit>> .Mihciiii Sitad to
Nuahir-
^.in. 352
ilt- tin- astrologers, 354
entrusts his daughtr
Mil 354
446
INDEX
Khun of Cliin, gives presents to ;
Mihnln Si tad, 356
parts with his daughter at |
the Jihun, 356
his daughter described,
357
evacuates territory, 358
Kharazm (Khiva), 238, 359
Kliarnid, bower of, 83
Kharrad, Trdnian chief, 85, 207,
251
Kharzarwan, king of Gililn, 85
takes the Khdn prisoner,
90
KhatKn, district in Badakhshan,
94, 331, 359
Khatiin, consort of the Khdn, 5
fate of, in war with Bahrain
Gur, 5
Khazar, district and people north
of the Caucasus, 83, 214,
224
Khurdsan, 99, 100, 214, 224, 237,
335
Narsi made ruler of, 99
Khurdad, month and day, 112,
225, 351
Khurra-i-Ardshir. See Ardshir
Khurra.
Khushnawaz, son of the Khan
and ruler of the Haitalians,
ix, 164 seq., 174 seq., 194,
198, 359
Piriiz advances against, 164
writes to Piniz, 165
appeals to Bahrain Gur's
treaty, 166
his prayer to God, 167
digs a trench, 167
defeats Piriiz by a feint,
168
his correspondence with Su-
farai, 174 aeq.
defeated by Siifarai, 177
takes refuge in Kuhandizh,
177
sues for peace, 178
Khushnawdz, releases Kubad,
Ardshir, and other cap-
tives, and gives up the
spoil, 180
Khusrau, Shah. See Kai Khus-
rau.
Khusrau, Iranian noble, 11
honoured by Bahrain Giir,
10
Khutan, city and district in
Turkistan, 84, 115, 330,
334, 359
people of, make submission
to Nushirwdn, 360
King of the Commons, 3
King (piece in chess), 382, 385,
422
position of, 388, 422
check to, 422
mate to, 423
King (piece in nard), 382, 389
Kirmdn, region in southern I'riin,
214
Kir mdnsh dli, city, 187
Kirwi, Tranian noble, 23
Story of, 22
Kisrd. See Nushinvan.
Kobad (Kubad), Sttsdnian king,
183
Kubad (Kobad), Shah, ix, x, 160,
1 68 seq., 179 seq. and note,
226, 247
his captivity among the Hai-
tillians, 1 60
leads the rearguard in the
war with the Turkmans
( Haitalians), 164
taken prisoner, 168
his flight to the Haitalians,
170, 184, 186
released by Klmshnawdz, 180
made Shith in the place of
Baldsh, 182
Reign of, 183 seq.
Note on, 183 seq.
historical sketch of, 183
title of, 183
INDEX
447
Kubad, his reform of taxation, 183
note, 215
hi>n»nv«-r.-ion to Mazda
184, 204
dethroned, 184
imprisoned, 184
escapes, 184
his marriage, 184, iS6
regains the throne, 184
pujs Sufarai to death, 184
his massacre of the Mazda-
185
his first war with Hum, 187,
200
reason for, 187
makes peace,
his second war with Rum,
187
accession of, 188
summon- Shapiir of Rai to
overthrow Sufarai, 191
conference with Shapiir.
192
sends Shapur to Shiraz to
arrest Sufarai, 193
confiscates Sufarai's goods,
194
adopts the archmage's advice
concerning Sufarai, 194
l'r.iniaii>. revolt ag
195
li.-lped to escape by Rizmihr,
196 seq.
his marriage, 197
gives his wife a signet
198
cedes Chaghan t., th. li
Hans in return for th. ir
h-lp, 198
marches on Taisafiin, 199
par Iranians and
Jamasp. 200
rega 200
makes Rizmihr chief mi;
200
taken cities fi 200
fixe* his seat at Mada'in, 201
builds cities and a hospi-
tal, 201
Mazdak's influence over, 201
drought in the reign of, 201
Mazdak's parable to, 201
his reply, 202
presides over the disputation
between Niishirwau and
dak, 207
gives judgment agftin-t Maz-
dak, 208
hands n k and his
followers to Nii.shiru an, 208
repentance of, 209
testament of, 210, 316
his age, 210
his death, 2IO
hi- .sons, 316
Kubad, son of Jam, son of Kubad,
pint to make, Shah, 316
Kuhandizh (Kunduz. Baigand),
city in Afghan Turkistdn,
Khushnawaz takes refuge in,
177
Kum, city between Ispahdn
and Tihran, 214, 224
LAMBAK, a wat»T-carri«-r. vii,
13
li Bahrain (iiir, 13
*eq.
': by Ualiiam (iiir, 2O
-25
MS
Leo, constellation, 410
ins, -lain l»y Bahrain liiir, vii,
'. 55. 77
Lucerne (Medicagosatiixi), taxes
on, 215
I.uch. r.'-i«»n, 328, 362
cap d at
nan, 328
448
INDEX
MADA'IN, Ctesiphon (Taisafiin),
and the neighbouring cities,
xi, 201, 244, 266, 272, 337,
363
Nushirwan sends his Human
captives to, 259
Magi, 171, 184
Magi an, Magians, 60
chant, 60
fire, 409
Mali Afrid, daughter of Barzin,
53
married to Bahrain Giir, 53
Mahbiid (Mebodes), minister of
Kubiid, xii, 213, 316 seq.
instrumental in making Nii-
slnnvan Shah, 316
fall of, 317, 322
Nushirwtin's repentance with
regard to, 317, 325
Niishirwan's treasurer, 319
his sons, 319
serve Nushirwa'n's meals,
319, 321
his wife prepares Nushirwan's
food, 321, 222
envied by Ziiran, 319
Mahiyar, I'ranian noble, 38
praises Bahram Gvir, 38
Mdhiyar, a jeweller, viii, 55 seq.
his daughter. See Ami.
and his daughter entertain
Bahntm Giir, 59 seq.
Mahniiid, Sultdn, 277, 431
Mdhwi (= Shdhwf ?), one of Fir-
dausi's autliorities, 382
Mdi, city between the Oxus and i
Bukhara? 91, 331, 385,
421
Mdi, king of Hind, 395, 396, 399,
401, 403, 404
Makran (Gedrosia, Baluchistan),
390
Malcolm, Sir John, 6
Mamiin, Khalifa, 382, 430
Main', heresiarch, 188
Mansiir, son of Nuh, Samanid, 5
Margh, city between the Oxus
and Bukhara? 91,331,412,
421
Mars, planet, 92, 252, 418
Marv, city and district, 88 seq.,
174, 357
as rhyme-word, 88 note
the Khan reaches, 88
Bahram Gur marches on,
89
Azad Sarv finds Biizurjmihr
at, 283
Mas'udi, historian, 3, 4, 6, 153,
280
his account of the fortifica-
tions at Darbaud, 215
on the game of nard, 382
chess, 382
Mazandaran, 215
Mazdak, heresiarch, x, 184, 185,
1 88
his disputation with Nushir-
wan, 188, 206 seq.
account of, 188, 201
becomes chief minister to
Kubad, 201
his influence over Kubad,
201
his parable to Kiibad in
time of drought, 201
his practical application of
Kubad's reply, 202
converts Kubdd, 204
his preaching and practice,
204
his attempt to convert Nu-
shirwan, 205
Kubad decides against, 208
and his followers executed
by Niishirwan, 208
Mazdakism, 184
Mazdakites, 184
massacre of, 185, 208
great assembly of, 205
Mebodes. See Mahbiid.
INDEX
449
Media, 6
Manila. 214
Merchant, a, vii
entertains and displeases
Bahrain Gur, 39
made the slave of his own
apprentice, 42
Merchants, Iranian, made ac-
cessories to Bahrain Gur's
tlL'ht from Hind, i ;
Mihrak, Tribal King, 185, 192
Mihran, family, 156
proverb on, 185
account of, 185
rivalry of, with Karan, 185
men of mark among the, 186,
187
Mihran, Tranian general, 251
commands the centre of Nu-
shirw. iii's hoxt. 251
Mihr:!- Milan high priest
and envoy, \\i, 186, 350,
361, 363
> OUt-
wit, 352
takes charge of the Khan's
daughter, 354
receives gifts from the Khan,
356
loomed on his return, 357
Mihras, Cesar's envoy, 261
negotiates peace with Nii-
shfrwan, 261
Mihr Azar, priest, 188
assists Nushirwan in his dis-
with Mazdak,
188,206
Mihr Barzin, franian warrior, 85
Mih i Hid ad, franian magnate, 21
entertains Bahrain Gur, 22
Mihr mian sage, 270
quote<l, 270
Mihr Na. M.imnter of
Bahrain Gur, and of i,i~
son Yazflaginl, 4* *S3
his ..on-, .}
> i an warrior, 85
VOL. VII.
Military obsequies, in the time
of Nushmxan, 252
Milk, easily "turned," 317, 324
bane of, 125 and nvtz, 324
Miller, a. \ii
becomes Bahrain Giir's fa-
thfr-iu-law. 34
dignified !•%• Bahram Gdr, 34
Min-relia, 215
Minister (piece in chess). See
dr.
Mu Kh.ind, historian, 3, 4, 6,
156, 159, i?'. 183, 186
M«»hl. Jules, on Wisdom-litera-
ture, 280
Mnhainniad, 1'rophet, 213
birth of, 213
Mukaffa. See Ibn Mukatla.
• , city in the 1'unjali, 140
monarch of, entertained by
Bahrain <.ur. 140 seq.
Munzir, prince of Una. vii, 9
intercedes with Bahrain Giir
for the I'ranians, 10
rewarded by Buhrdm Gur, 10
Munzir, aci, son of Nii'man,
prince of Hira, 217, 244*^.
proU'ctnl l»y Nii>lur\v;in, 217
his \\ar with Harith bin
Jabala, 217
sent by Niishiruan to invade
i ; MIH, 246
Mushkiiuil>. a im.l. i\ daughter,
32 and note
takt-n to wife by Bahrain
Mu-hkinak, a mill, r's <lau-ht<-r,
32 and note
taken to wife by Bahiam
fi 33
N
N.MIKANV AN, a rity L
dtid, east of the Tigris ;
a canal on the east bank
of that river, quitting it
450
INDEX
about 100 miles above, and
rejoining it about 100 miles
below, Baghdad, 141
Nard, game of, xiii, 5, 389 seq.
invention of, 280, 381, 382,
389
sent by Niishirwdn to the
Raja of Hind, 5, 381
meaning of, 381
symbolism of, 381
Mas'iidi on, 382
described, 389
Narsi, brother of Bahrain Giir,
viii, 4, 95, 100
made captain of the host, 1 1
regent, 86
fails to persuade the Iranians
to resist the Khan, 87
Bahrain Giir's letter to, 92
writes to Bahrain Giir on
behalf of the Tranians, 94
goes with the chiefs to
welcome Bah ram Giir, 96
made ruler of Khurasdn, 99
welcomes his brother on his
return from Hind, 137
Narsi, Shdh, 359
Nasr, son of Ahmad, Samaiiid,
383, 43°
patron of Riidagi, 383
Nau-Ardshir=Nard, 381
Naudar, Shah, 37, 171
Naztdb, a miller's daughter, 32
and note
taken to wife by Bahrain
Giir, 33
Nero, Emperor, 279
Nestorian Metropolitan, 219
Patriarch, 219
Nile, river, 48, 250, 344, 416
Nimrtiz,1 327
Nisd, city in Khurasan, 89
Noldeke, Professor, 6
on the Gipsies, 6
on Siifarai, 171, 185
Noldeke, on Wisdom -literature,
281
North, Sir Thomas, 383
hia version of the Fables of
Bidpai, 383
Note on Pronunciation, xviii
Prefatory, v
Niih, son of Nasr, Sdmanid, 5
Nu'maii, prince of Hira, vii, 10
rewarded by Bahrain Gur,
10
Niishirwan (Kisra", Chosroes I),
Shah, x seq., 4, 199, 200,
220, 273 seq., 279 seq., 320,
423 seq.
origin of name, 185, 211 and
note
birth of, stories of, 186, 197
seq.
his assistants against Maz-
dak, 1 88, 206
upbringing of, 200
Mazdak's attempt to convert,
205
his disputation with Mazdak,
206 seq.
Kubad decides in favour of,
208
executes Mazdak and his
followers, 208
Kubad's testament in favour
of, 210, 316
Reign of, 212 seq.
Notes on, 212 seq., 279
seq., 316 seq., 380 seq.
Roman Emperors contempo-
rary with, 212
historical events of his reign
in the Shahnama, 213
his marriage with the daugh-
ter of the Kha"n, 213, 317,
347 seq.
his wars with Riim, 213, 217
first campaign of, 217,
218, 249
1 See Vol. i. p. 396 note.
INDEX
45'
Nu-iiirwaii, conspiracy against,
214. 316
his divUiou of his empire,
214, 224
his bargains with Justinian,
214, 216 teq.
his reform of taxation, 215,
224
his wall in the Caucasus, 215,
239
Mas'udi's account of , 2 1 5
his dealings with the Aldus,
216
Gilan, 216
ichis, 217
his support of Munzir, 217,
244
leads to war with '
217, 244 scq.
jealous of Justinian's suc-
cesses in the West, 217
accession of, 221
promises to rule justly, 221
scq.
att • ' r -.:• tic- insis-
tance of I :
approves of Bdbak's conduct,
232
his method of raising troops,
233
his message to Caesar on
MUD/I i - hehalf, 245
supplies Mun/.ir with t
for the invasion <>f Hum.
246
goes to Azar Abadagan, 250
his disposition of his host, 251
MM hi- troops, 251
proclamations of, 252, 365
his burial of dead soldiers, 252
his p-.liry \\ith < nemies, 253
takes Shrirab, 254
'-255
treasures, 255,
258
defeat* FarfuriyuH, 256
takes Antakiya, 258
wdn, disposes of the Riiman
captives, 259,327
and the Human cordwainer,
260
envoy from Caesar comes to,
261
grants peace to Ccesar, 262
appoints Shirwi to receive
th«- Human tribute, 262
Christian wife of, 263
nether of Nushza*d, 263,
274
helps Nushzud, 266
laments for Niishzad, 276
imprisons Niishzad, 264
illness ami reported death of,
264, 265
hears of Nushzad's revolt.
266
instructs Ra*m Barzin bow to
act, 267 seg.
'•n ]iun«iiieta of, 280, 287
scq.
possible origin of, 280
Buzurjmihr's discourses
at, 287 scq.
divam of, 282
suits the archmages, 282
seeks for a dream-inter-
preter, 282
his dream interpreted by
Buznrjmihr, 284
mis an<l honours Bnzur-
jmihr, 286, 289, 304, 311,
3«5
his relations with Sinjibu,
3'7
317
\\ith Mahl.ud ami hi^
sons, 319407.
suspects Zdnin, 324
greatness of, 327
327
the Kh. in's eml':i-s\ to, 329
th«- chiefs as to
I). Mil- 1
the HailaliaiiH, 333
452
INDEX
Niishirwan, the chiefs' reply to,
334
his rejoinder to the chiefs, |
336
prepares for war with the j
Khan, 337
writes to his chiefs, the
Khun, and Faghanish,
337
marches from Mada'in, 337
goes to Gurgan, 337
receives embassy from the
Khiin, 339
holds a court, 340
displays his prowess before
the assembly, 341
dismisses the Khan's envoy
with a letter, 344
the Khan's offer of affinity
to, 347
his reply, 349
occupies territory evacuated
by the Khdn, 358
Haitalians and others bring
gifts to, 360, 362
gives praise to God, 361
receives the tribute from
Rum, 362
goes to the temple of Azar-
gashasp, 363
the greatness of, 364
questions Buzurjmihr, 367
seq.
receives the game of chess
from Hind, 380, 385
the R(lja of Hind's embassy
to, 384
rewards Buzurjmihr for dis-
covering how to play
chess, 388
sends Biizurjmihr with pre-
sents and the game of
nard to Hind, 390
proposes wager with the
Raja, 391
welcomes Buzurjmihr on his
return from Hind, 393
Nushirwan, acquires the Book of
Kalilaand Dinma, 423 seq.
sends gifts to the Raja, 425
rewards Barzwi, 429
Niishzad, son of Nushirwan, xi,
213, 265*6?.
historical account of, 219
Firdausi's account of, 263
seq.
education of, 264
imprisonment of, 264
hears report of Nushinvun's
death, 264, 265
revolts, 266
helped by his mother, 266
writes to Caesar, 266
goes to fight with Ram
Barzin, 272
exhorted to yield by Piniz,
273
his reply to Piriiz, 274
wounded, 275
repents, 275
sends message to his mother,
275
dies, 275
lamentation for, 276
Firdausi's reflections on, 276
O
OBLIVION, Castle of, 184
Obsequies, military, in the time
of Nushirwan, 252
Olives, taxes on, 215, 225
Oxus (Jihrin), river, 156, 317
PAHLAVf, 6, 113, 1 88, 380 seq.
Fables of Bidpai translated
into, 382
Paidawasi, coin, 95 and note
Palmyra, city in Syrian desert,
217
INDEX
453
Pandnauiak-i \ MitiY»-i
Biikhtakan, Pahhn I
279
Parable, Mazdak's, 201
Pare, 86, 90, 95, 190, 194, 201,
206, 214, 224
Parthian, Purthians, 156
Perozes ( 1'iniz), Sasa nian king, 1 59
Persia, 118, 129, 213, 381
Fables of Bidpai brought to,
213, 423 tcq.
Chess brought to, 380, 384 seq.
Persian, Persians, 6, n, 48, 107,
136, 165, 187, 218
language, 134, 140, 143, 430
swords, 135
bard, quoted, 265
wi-il.. in literature, 278 9eq.
verse, 383
Fables o: trans-
lated into, 383
Philosophers, Greek, entertained
l.y N . 280
Pillar, Bahnim (iiir's, 92, 160,
161, 164
Perozes), Sh ,h. i\, 4, 153,
156 aeq., 173 seq., 178 seq.,
359
passed over in the succession
by Yazdagird, 155
helped by the HaiUi!
156, 157
defeats Hurinuz. 157
pardon of Hmmu/., 156,
-n of, 159*64.
Note on, 159*^.
calamities of, 159
title of, 159
;<• of, 159
measures against drought .
159. 162
159. 163
• n agaiust the
i Hans. \$()*rq.t\(>4»eq.
1 60
in mythical story, 161
Piru*. and Bahrrfm Gur's pillar,
161
his daughter taken prisoner,
161
her child tin- wife of
Kubad, 161, 184
•'•jsion of, 161
advances agaiust Khiishna-
. 164
gives the van to Hurniuz,
164
rear to Kubdd, 164
regency to Balash,
164
makes Sarkhdn (Sufarai)
minister to Balash, 164
and note
replies to the appeal of
Khushnawaz, 165, 167
defeated by Khiishnawaz,
1 68
death of, 168
franian tradition of the re-
e for, 170
irai determines to avenge,
173
aiau chief, 85
Tirii/.. I'r.inian general, 187
Piruz, frdnian warrior, 219, 273
*eq.
exhorts Nnshzad to \
273
Piriiz - Rdm (Rdm - Piruz .
built by 1'iru/. ix, 159,
I63
Pisces, constellation, 245
Piahdddian, 161, 171
Planets, the seven, 382, 408
symbolisr.i in the game of
nai.l, 382
Plato (Fa la tun), IOO noU
365
Poll-taxes, 215
Prefatory Note, v
Procopius, historian, 187
IV.. nun. Million, Note on, |
Proverb, 185
454
INDEX
Q
QUESTIONS, hard, 102 seq.
RAD, ruler of Zabulistan, 86
Rai. See Raja.
Rai, city and district near
Tihran, 84, 160, 184
Shajmr of, 184, 185, 191, 192
Raja (Rai) of Hind, xiii, 140 and
note, 143, 385 seq., 424,
425
sends game of chess to
Nushirwan, 5, 385
proposes wager to Nushir-
wan, 385, 387,
receives game of nard from
Nushirwan, 5, 381, 389
seq.
fails to discover how to play
the game, 392
pays forfeit to Nushirwan,
393
receives Nushirwan's gifts
from Barzwi, 425
assists Barzwi in his mission
to Hind, 425, 428
Ram Barzin, high priest and
general, xi, 210, 272, 275
has charge of Kubild's testa-
ment, 210
Nushirwan's instructions to,
concerning Nushzad, 267
seq.
goes to fight with Nushzad,
272
hears of Niishza'd's last
wishes, 276
Ramkubad (Aragan), town, 188
Ram-Piniz. See Piruz-Ram.
Rizmihr (Zarinihr), son of Su-
farai, x, 185, 207
identical with Sufarai, 185
goes with Kubad to the
Haitalians, 186
fate of, 1 86
Rizinilir.his loyaltyXKubad, 196
helps Kubad to escape from
prison, 196 aeq.
negotiates a marriage for
Kubad, 197
made chief minister, 200
Roman, Romans, 187, 214
neglect the defences in the
Caucasus, 187
their so-called tribute to
Persia, 187
their treatmentof Mimzir.217
leads to war with Nushir-
wj'm, 217
Riidagi, Persian poet, 383, 431
versifies the Fables of Bidpai,
383,43J
Ruhbam, king of Rai, 85
Ruhliani, Tranian hero, 156
Ruhham, frsnian warrior, 156
lielps Piriiz to gain the
throne, 156, 186
Rukh (castle), piece in chess, 385,
422, 423
position of, 388, 422
move of, 422
Rum, the Eastern RomanEmpire,
xi, 5> 37. 57> 78, 79, 83, 84,
100, 151, 153, 199, 213 and
passim
Bahram Giir's war with, 4,
5,84
brocade of, 64, 67, 276, 384
its tribute to Tn'm explained,
187
Niishirwdn's wars with, 213
Ruman, Riiman?, xi, 48, 107,
244, 246, 256 seq., 329
slaves, 54
eunuchs, 67
pen, 73
helmet, 89, 272, 274
tongue, 256, 261
captives, Nushii w;m's, 259,
327
bishop, 275, 276
silk, 424
INDEX
455
Rumiya >NY\v Antioi-h), 218
liu-han 1'iiu/. city, 160
Rustam, frdnian her-
Ruzbih, Ualiiani Giir's high
priest, vii, 26 seq., 54, 67
bewails Bahrain < .ur'- course
of life, 56
reproached by Bah rum Gur
for liis i , 83
S
SADA, feast of, n, 94, 200
Sada, franian noble, 312
Saklah (Slavmiia), 112, 115,364
Sal in, son of Fandun, 101
in hero, 74
Samanid, Sanuinids, 5, 383
Samarkand (Sughd), city and
district in Turkistaii, 167,
358. 359
Sandal, Saiulali. city in Hind, 140,
395. 396, 401 »eq.
king of, entertained by Bah-
ram Our, 140 se<j.
Sanscrit, 382
Sapiiuid, daughter of Shangul,
1 28^7., 144
inarrieil to Bahrain (lur, 128
lino's out who IM.T Im.shand
is. 131
pl.t ilight
from Hind, 132
:'^r'il. 135
con v> it<il to /oroastrianism,
'39
: i gul, 142
Sari, city in Mazandaran, 237
Sar-i-pul i /ohab, place, 187
Sarkhan. See Sdfarai.
Saruch, desert in Kirnuin, 362
Sasauian.Sasnnians, 8$, 185, 212,
38i
^ty. vii, i
Saturn, planet 92, 151, 252, 267,
346, 418
Seneca, the younger, Nero's tutor,
279
Seoses, Persian conmiander-in-
chief, 187
Seven, favourite number in Per-
sian story, 1 86, 280
Banquets of Nu>lm \\aii, 280
possible origin of, 280
planets, 382, 408
symbolised in the game
"t" nard, 382
Shabdfz, Bahrain Giir's steed, 37,
80
Shabrang, Bahnim Gur's steed,
55
Shadan, one of Firdausi's autho-
rities, 382, 423
Shahnama, 5, 156, 184, 185, 215,
217, 3»7, 381
Wisdom-literature in, 278
»eq.
Slialua, chief, viii, 92
made i. runin by
Bahnim Gur, 92
Shahnim-rinix. See Badin Piruz.
Shahrivar, month and day, 76
Shahwi (-- Mal.wi?), one of Fir-
dausi's nut hoi it i.s, 382,
394
Shakespeare, 383
quoted, 383
Shambalid, .laughter of Barzin,
53
married ; n Gur, 53
Shaimnas, Nushzad's general,
219, 272
Shangul, king of Hind, viii. i\
109 *cq.
his border-raids, 1 10
gives aii' nian
(Halnani (,ur), 112
his state described, 112
his brother, 113
liinson, 113, 115
on his own greatness, 114
his wife the daughter of the
Faghfur, 115
456
INDEX
Shangul entertains Bahrain Giir,
116
Bahrain Giir wrestles before,
117
plays at polo, 118
Bahnim Giir displays his
marksmanship before, 118
tries to find out who the
Persian envoy (Bahnim
Giir) is, 118 seq.
takes counsel with his sages,
126
offers a daughter and great
advancement to Bahrain
Gur, 127
marries Sapinud to Bahram
Gur, 128 seq.
goes to a festival, 134
hears of Bahrain Giir's flight,
135
reproaches Sapinud, 135
makes a league with Bahrdm
Gur, 137
bids farewell to Sapinud, 137
makes a new treaty with
Bahnim Gur, 140
and seven other kings en-
tertained by Bahriim Gur,
140 seq.
visits his daughter Sapinud,
142
farewells Sapinud, 143
makes Bahrain Giir his heir,
143
Bahram Gur's parting gifts
to, 144
sends Gipsies to I'rdn, 149
Shdpur, son of Shdpur, Shah, 171,
1 86
Shapur, son of Urmuzd, Shah,
359
Shapur, of Rai, Kubad's com-
mander-in-chief, 184, 185
summoned to overthrow Su-
farai, 191
Shdpur, of Rai, his conference
with Kubad, 192
goes to Shiraz and arrests
Sufarai, 193
conveys Sufarai to Shall
Kubtid, 194
Shapur, fninian noble, 304,
333
Shiknaii, place, 359
Shiraz, city, x, 6, 173, 190, 193,
194
Shirwi, Nushirwdn's commander-
in- chief, 251
appointed to receive the
Ruman tribute, 262
Shirzdd, herald in Nushirwan's
host, 252
Shiz (Takht-i-Sulainian), in Azar-
baijan, 5
Fire-temple at, 5
Khatun sent to, 5
Shoemaker, young, vii, 24
Story of, 24
Shunib (Sura), city, 217
place of Gushtdsp's exile,
254
taken by Nushinvdn, 217,
254
Signs, the Twelve (Zodiac), 408
Sikandar (Iskandar, Alexander
the Great), 79, 248
Sasanian view of, 79 and
note
Sind, region and river (Indus),
no, 112, 390
king of, entertained by Bah-
ram Gur, 140 aeq.
Sindian, 126
Sinjibii, first historical Khan of
the Turks, 317
his relations with Nushir-
wan, 317
and the Haitalians, 317
Sistdn,1 214
Steed (piece in chess). See Horse.
1 See Vol. i. p. 396.
INDEX
457
Sufarai (Sarkhan, Sukhra, Seo-
scs ?), ix, x, 170 and note,
appointed minister to tin*
regent Balash, 164
gloritieation of, in Iranian
tradition, 170
account of, 173, 184, 185
res<> --ii-ir 1'iniz, 173
writes to Balash, 173
marches on Man, 174
correspondence with
Khii>hnaw.;/., 174 seq.
defeats KhiUhnawaz, 177
gives the spoil to the troops,
177
KhiUhnawaz sues for peace
to, 178
consults his troops, 178
resolves to mala- peace, 179
rej.lic- t«. Khu-hnawa/., 179
returns to fnln in triumph,
180
welcome -h and the
chiefs, 181
his greatness, 181, 190
dethrones Balash and makes
Kubad Shah, 182
proverb concerning, 185
identical with Kizmihr, 185
fall of, ioo«e?.
Kubad's letter to, 193
arrest of, 193
his property confiscated, 194
con -ii.ih Kubad, 194
executed, 195
his iihr. 196
Sughil ;--, (Sa-
inarkaiid), 331, 337, 3S*>
359
... See Sufarai.
total eclipse of, 159
Sura. 'SVeShunib.
861*1 327,328
Sarush, angel, 38
Susanak. a miller's daugl
an. I
Sdsanak. taken to wife by Bahrain
• 33
Susiana (Khuzistan). 184
TABARI, historian, 3 teq., 156,
159, 160, 170, 171, 185, 186,
217
the Persian 5
story from, concerning
Kubad, 183 note
his account of Kubad and
Nushirwan's reform of the
uion, 183 note, 215
on the Turks, 317
Table of Contrnts vii
Tahmuras, Shah, 9 an.l nute, 273
Taisafiin (Cte^iphon), xii, iS8,
194.361.363
Talliand, Indian prince, xiii, 394,
Story of Gav and, 394 »eq.
t her of. SeeG&v.
birth of, 396
tutor of, 397, 398, 401, 402,
408,410, 414
rivalry lu-tween Gav and,
397 *«?•
war U'twtvn Gav and, 404
«eq.
rejects Gav's offers of ac-
COIlillindation, 406, 409
hi- death foretold, 408, 413,
4>S
deft-at<>d bv (iav. 412
|ir«i|»i!xal
ivr l.attlo, 415
it and death of, 416
between Man and Balkh,
156
y I'ini/ to the
llaitalians, 156, 160
ini|. . 156
i, 164, 165. 359
458
INDEX
Taurus, constellation, 282
Taxation, vii, ix, 224
Kubttd's reform of, 183 note,
215, 225
Nfohirwin'l reform of, 215,
225 seq.
Temperaments, the four, 381
symbolised in the game of
nard, 381
Theodosiopolis, city, 187
Theodosius, the younger, Roman
Emperor, 187
Tiberius II, Eastern Roman Em-
peror, 212
Tirmid, place where the route
from Balkh to Samarkand
crosses the Oxus (Jihun),
156, 157, 33i
Treasure, hidden, discovery of,
vii, 36
Tribute, Rum's to frdn, 214, 215,
248, 262, 333, 338, 362
Tshatraug-Ntlinak, Pahlavi text,
380, 381
Tughral, a species of falcon, 49
described, 48
Bahrain Gur's, 48 eeq.
Tur, son of Faridiin, 73
Turdii, viii seq., 43, 92, 136,
156,178
Turanians, viii
Turkistau, 84, 92, 118, 334, 365
Turkman, Turkmans, 48, 88, 92,
97, 177, 179, 238, 239, 334,
364
defeated by Bahrain Giir,
90, 91
sue for peace, 91
war of Piruz with, 164 seq.
their inroads through the
Caucasus, 238
make submission to Nushir-
wdn, 360
Turks, 4
confused with the Haita-
lians, 4
historical appearance of, 317
Turks., Tabari on, 317
defeat the Haitalians, 332
described, 332
Twelve Champions, the, 156
Signs (Zodiac), 408 _,
U
URMUZD, the Good Principle,
228, 406 and note
Unity of, symbolised in the
game of nard, 381
Urmuzd, son of Narsi, (Hor-
misdas II), Shith, 359
Ustad, franian general, 251
commands Nushinvan's rid it
wing, 251
VALE of Heroes, 6
Varahran V (Bahrdm Gur), 3
Vega, star, 245
Vend id dd, Nask, 188
reference to Mazclak in, 188
Venus, planet, 53, 151, 263
Vineyards, taxes on, 215, 225
Vologeses, 170
W
WALNUTS, taxes on, 225
Wazir (minister), piece in chess,
385, 422, 423
position of, 388, 422
move of, 422
Whip, Bahrain Giir's, 47, 54, 63,
64
an object of reverence, 47,
54,63
White Huns. See Haitalians.
Wine-drinking, forbidden by
Bahrdm Giir, 23
again permitted, 25
Wisdom, praise of, Firdausi's,
278
INDEX
459
a-literature, Persian, 278
seg.
M..hl on, 280
N Mekeon, 281
!57t 33
1-land, 120 and note
seq. and note
slain by Bahrain (iiir, 123
YAM AN. 262
Yasht XXII, metrical para-
I'll rase of, 318
.. I'ahlavi text,
380
Yazdagird, son <•: (lade-
gird I), Shdh, 4, 10, 109,
119, 171, 185, 359
referred to, 74
Yazdagird. sou of Bahrain i.ur.
(Isde-ird II), -
152, 156, 160, 187
welcomes his father on hi>
return from Hind. 137
"inte.l l»y I'.uli
•• eed him, 150
1 on, 153
a blank in Shahndma,
153
historically important,
»53
wars of, 153
passes in the ('an
casus, 153, 187
his title, 153
bis sons, 153
muz to snoeeed
him, 155
Yazdagird, dies, 155
Yazdagird, chief scribe temp.
N'lishirwan, 304, 307, 312,
333- 337, 339. 394
course of, 305
'tuestions Buztirjmihr,
308
•1, a, vii
entertains Bahrain (iiir, 43
teq.
wife of, her converse with
Bahnim ( iur, 45
her presage, 46
ardi-d by liahniiu Gdr, 48
,1 173, 174, 193
/ahhak, Shah, 185, 199
/am, river and city (b.
Tirmid and Annvi?), 359
Zandavasta, 200, 207, 283, 302
passage from, metrically
]>ar;i pli rased, 318
Zarduhsht (/aratlm-htra, Zoro-
r), 9, 207, 264, 318
1 ire-fane of, 139
hixh priest of, con
139
/armihr. See Kizmihr.
<-ity. xi, 259
Xirih.son ..f Sh;ih Piriiz, 170
-tiianism. 188, 317
Z6rAn, Nushirwan'-. chamberlain,
xii, 319 seq.
envies Mahbud, 319
plots with a Jew again- 1
M ilihml, 320 seq.
ma ^ion to N«.
324
END OF VOL. VII.
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